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The relationship between the VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratio and threatened abortion

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and placenta growth factor (PlGF) and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio in pregnant women with threatened abortion (TA) compared to uncomplicated pregnancies at the same gestational week.

Methods

Thirty-three pregnant women with TA and thirty-three pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies were included in this case–control study. The level of VEGF, sVEGFR-1, and PIGF was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The primary purpose of this study was to compare the VEGF, sVEGFR- 1, and PlGF levels and VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratios in pregnant women with TA and pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The secondary purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of these markers and gestational age.

Results

The serum levels of the sVEGFR-1 [0.60 (0.21–1.68) vs. 0.24 (0.09–0.57) ng/ml], VEGF [39.10 (6.57–163.56) vs. 5.24 (0.84–15.08) ng/ml] and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio [68.64 (6.45–550.48) vs 24.12 (2.63–72.63)] were significantly elevated in women with TA (respectively, p: 0.001, p: 0.001, p: 0.001). However, PlGF did not elevate in women with TA [20.80 (3.13–93.11) vs 20.16 (1.22–49.91) ng/ml] (p: 0.473).

Conclusion

These findings support the hypothesis that increased levels of the VEGF and sVEGFR-1 and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio may be associated with the pathogenesis of TA.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Gulhane Military Medical Academy Center of the Research and Development (AR-2012/27).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest. All authors report no financial and commercial conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical School, 06018, Etlik/Ankara, Turkey

    Uğur Keskin, Mustafa Ulubay, Murat Dede, Yahya Kemal Koçyiğit & Ali Ergün

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical School, Etlik/Ankara, Turkey

    Taner Ozgurtas & Fevzi Nuri Aydin

Authors
  1. Uğur Keskin
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  2. Mustafa Ulubay
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  3. Murat Dede
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  4. Taner Ozgurtas
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  5. Yahya Kemal Koçyiğit
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  6. Fevzi Nuri Aydin
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  7. Ali Ergün
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Correspondence to Uğur Keskin.

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Keskin, U., Ulubay, M., Dede, M. et al. The relationship between the VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratio and threatened abortion. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 557–561 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3452-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3452-9

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