Maternal plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 concentrations in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant Zimbabwean women.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the relationship between maternal plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) concentrations and risk of preeclampsia among women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital in Zimbabwe. We evaluated the relationship in the context of maternal systemic inflammation using plasma tumor necrosis factor-a soluble receptor p55 (sTNFp55) as a marker.

METHODS

132 women with preeclampsia and 180 controls were included in this case-control study analysis. Maternal post-diagnosis plasma TGF-beta1 and sTNFp55 concentrations were determined using immunoassays. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS

A linear increase in preeclampsia risk was observed with increasing quartiles of TGF-beta1 concentrations (p<0.01). Women whose TGF-beta1 concentrations were >or=25.1 ng/ml (quartile 4) had a 2.5-fold (95% CI 1.2-5.6) increased risk of preeclampsia as compared with those women whose concentrations were <11.2 ng/ml (quartile 1). Relative to women with no evidence of systemic inflammation and no elevated TGF-beta1 concentrations, those women who were jointly positive for elevated TGF-beta1 and sTNFp55 concentrations experienced a 5.3-fold (95% CI 2.3-12.0) increased risk of preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we noted that elevated TGF-beta1 is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. We also noted that the preeclampsia risk is exaggerated in the presence of maternal systemic inflammation.