P-type inositol phosphoglycans in serum and amniotic fluid in active pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVES

Abnormal secretion of P-type inositol phosphoglycans (IPG-P) has been described in maternal urine of pre-eclamptic women. The aim of this study was to determine the origin of production of IPG-P. We examined the IPG-P content of maternal and fetal serum, maternal urine and amniotic fluid in both normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

DESIGN

Established extraction and bioactivity assay techniques were used to compare total IPG-P levels in serum samples, and a polyclonal-antibody-based ELISA to assay the amniotic fluid and urine samples in matched pairs of women.

SUBJECTS

Eleven women with pre-eclampsia requiring caesarean section (subjects), 11 pregnant women requiring elective caesarean section for reasons other than pre-eclampsia (controls).

RESULTS

Our data confirm the abnormal level of IPG-P in maternal urine during pre-eclampsia. Moreover, IPG-P levels were higher in umbilical sera than in maternal sera samples. Amniotic fluid as well as urine ELISA results were significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group compared with normal controls. Total IPG-P bioactivity in serum did not vary between serum compartments in normal pregnancy. Uterine vein IPG-P levels were lower in pre-eclampsia when compared with normal pregnancy. A possible correlation was observed between urine and amniotic fluid levels in normal women. No correlation was observed between measured blood levels and those in urine and amniotic fluid.

CONCLUSIONS

It is hypothesized that steady state equilibrium of IPG-P in serum in normal pregnancy is disrupted in pre-eclampsia. Additionally, an abnormal IPG-P sub-fraction, detectable in urine and amniotic fluid, may be present and involved in the pathophysiology of the syndrome, although sites of production of this abnormal form remain unclear.