Evaluation Of Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain (EGFL7) mRNA Expression and its Protein Level in Preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) in maternal blood and its protein level in sera of pregnant women complicated with preeclampsia (PE).

METHOD: Case-control study involving 25 pregnant women diagnosed with PE (cases) and 25 gestational age-matched normal pregnant women (controls). EGFL7 mRNA expression in normal and PE patients was quantified by (qRT-PCR), and EGFL7 protein level was estimated using ELISA.

RESULTS: The RQ values of EGFL7 in the PE group were significantly higher than in the NC group ( P  < 0.001). Pregnancies affected with PE showed higher serum EGFL7 protein compared with matched controls ( P  < 0.001). EGFL7 serum level cutoff value ≥ 38.25 µg/ml could be used in the diagnosis of PE with sensitivity = 92%, and specificity = 88%.

CONCLUSION: EGFL7 mRNA is overexpressed in maternal blood of pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. Serum EGFL7 protein is elevated in PE cases and can be used as a diagnostic marker for preeclampsia.