Serum Level of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in Sera of Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a central pathogenic feature in pre-eclampsia on the basis of elevated adhesion molecules. soluble forms of these molecules can be detected in plasma, and their concentrations are thought to reflect the degree of activation of a particular cell type. the aim of the present study was to compare the levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (svcam-1) in sera of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the plasma concentrations of svcam-1 in peripheral blood obtained from normal pregnant women (n=40), mild pre-eclampsia (n=37) and severe pre-eclampsia (n=38). concentrations of soluble adhesion molecule was determined with enzymelinked immunosorbant assay (elisa). serum concentration of svcam-1 was significantly higher in severe preeclampsia (p<0.05) than normal pregnancy. there was also significant differences in svcam- 1 levels between mild and severe pre-eclampsia (p<0.05). there was no difference in the mean plasma log svcam- 1between normal pregnant women and mild pre-eclamptic women. these results suggest soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are increased in severe pre-eclampsia, and svcam-1may be useful in predicting the severity of pre-eclampsia.