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Placental Expression and Serum Levels of Cytokeratin-18 Are Increased in Women With Preeclampsia

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate placental expression and serum cytokeratin-18 in women with preeclampsia.

Methods

Serum cytokeratin-18 was evaluated in 44 women with preeclampsia and 44 healthy pregnant women using an immunoradiometric assay. Placental expression of cytokeratin-18 was investigated in specimens from 23 women with preeclampsia and 20 healthy pregnant women by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Median serum cytokeratin-18 in women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women was 106.7 and 76.0 U/L, respectively (P = .02). Among women with preeclampsia, serum cytokeratin-18 was significantly associated with severity of disease (P = .001) and showed a sensitivity (standard error) and specificity (standard error) of 85% (7%) and 65% (12%),respectively. In placental specimens, the cytoplasm of the syncytiotrophoblast stained positive for cytokeratin-18 with strong and widespread staining in 83% and 45% of placental specimens of women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women, respectively (P = .01).

Conclusion

Elevated serum cytokeratin-18 values are associated with disease severity in women with preeclampsia. Our data provide additional evidence that the placenta might be the source of the elevated serum cytokeratin-18 values in women with preeclampsia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Lukas A. Hefler MD, Clemens B. Tempfer MD, Dagmar Bancher-Todesca MD, Christian Schatten MD, Peter Husslein MD, Georg Heinze PhD & Anthony R. Gregg MD

  2. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna Medical School, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 , Vienna, Austria

    Lukas A. Hefler MD, Clemens B. Tempfer MD, Dagmar Bancher-Todesca MD, Christian Schatten MD, Peter Husslein MD, Georg Heinze PhD & Anthony R. Gregg MD

Authors
  1. Lukas A. Hefler MD
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  2. Clemens B. Tempfer MD
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  3. Dagmar Bancher-Todesca MD
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  4. Christian Schatten MD
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  5. Peter Husslein MD
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  6. Georg Heinze PhD
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  7. Anthony R. Gregg MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lukas A. Hefler MD.

Additional information

Supported In part by the Erwin-Schroedinger-Auslandsstipendium J-1839 MED (to LH).

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Hefler, L.A., Tempfer, C.B., Bancher-Todesca, D. et al. Placental Expression and Serum Levels of Cytokeratin-18 Are Increased in Women With Preeclampsia. Reprod. Sci. 8, 169–173 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1177/107155760100800308

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/107155760100800308

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