Maternal Serum sEndoglin and Cell-Free Fetal DNA as Probable Markers of Preeclampsia: A Study in Single Center, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare the levels of maternal serum soluble endoglin (sEng) and cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in pregnant females with PE to normotensive pregnant ones, together with relating these levels to preeclampsia (PE) severity and onset. Method of the study: It was a comparative study in Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt, to detect the levels of serum sEng by ELISA besides the levels of cffDNA by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 80 pregnant females suffering from PE in addition to 80 normotensive pregnant ones that were included as control.

RESULTS: Levels of serum sEng and cffDNA were higher in PE cases than control (p < 0.0001٭ both) and were significantly related to the severity of the disease. Levels were also higher in early than late onset PE (p < 0.003٭ and <0.002٭, respectively). Sensitivities, specificities, positive, and negative predictive values in addition to accuracy of serum sEng and cffDNA were 97.5%, 98.8%, 98.7%, 97.5%, and 98.1% and 97.5%, 93.8%, 94.0%, 97.4%, and 95.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Maternal serum sEng and cffDNA can be good markers for diagnosis of PE in Egyptian patients. They are positively related to the disease severity.

ABBREVIATIONS: cffDNA; Cell-Free Fetal DNA, sEng; soluble Endoglin, PE; preeclampsia, qRT PCR; Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.