METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of pregnant and postnatal women aged between 18-35 years with no coexisting diseases. Serum samples were analysed for hs-TnI.
RESULTS: A total of 880 women (mean age = 29.1 years [standard deviation = 5.1 years]) were recruited with 129 (14%), 207 (24%), and 416 (47%) patients in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Ninety (10%) participants were recruited in the postnatal period. During pregnancy 28 (3%) patients were classified as having pregnancy-induced hypertension and 10 (1%) as preeclampsia. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I was measurable in 546 (62%) participants with a median of 1 ng/L (range 0 to 783 ng/L). Troponin concentrations were above the 99th percentile in 19 (2%) individuals. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia had higher concentrations of hs-TnI (median 11 ng/L [interquartile range (IQR) 6 to 22 ng/L] vs 12ng/L [IQR 3 to 98 ng/L] vs 1 ng/L [IQR 0 to 1 ng/L]). In logistic regression modeling hs-cTnI concentration remained an independent predictor of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia in both unadjusted and adjusted models (odds ratio 9.3 [95% confidence interval 5.8 to 16.3] and 11.5 [95% confidence interval 6.3 to 24.1], respectively, per doubling of hs-TnI concentrations).
CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac troponin measured using a high-sensitivity assay is quantifiable in the majority of young pregnant women with 2% of individuals having concentration above the 99th percentile sex-specific threshold. Patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia had higher cardiac troponin concentrations. Cardiac troponin was a strong independent predictor of pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia in pregnant and postnatal women.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. A total of 30 placentae comprised of 15 hypertensive and 15 normotensive cases were assessed. VEGF expression in placenta was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the number of syncytial knots was counted.
RESULTS: Our study showed an increased syncytial knot formation in the placenta of hypertensive mothers. VEGF expression was seen in syncytiotrophoblasts of 14 of the hypertensive cases (14/15, 93.3%), while only two of the normotensive cases were positive (2/15, 13.3%). There were no statistically significant differences in VEGF expression in other placenta cells, that is, cytotrophoblasts (P = 1.0), decidual cells (0.1394), maternal endothelial cells (0.5977), and fetal endothelial cells (P = 1.0).
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed an increased number of syncytial knots is a consistent histological finding in the placenta of patient with HDP. VEGF expression was significantly increased in syncytiotrophoblasts in placenta of hypertensive group, and it could be used as a biomarker for hypertension.