Serum Levels of Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Are Elevated in Severe Pre-Eclampsia

Abstract

Background: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a novel marker for systemic inflammation both in infectious and in inflammatory diseases. Since pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia has been found to include impairment of maternal immune system, we wanted to explore serum level of suPAR in women with severe pre-eclampsia and whether it differs from healthy pregnancies and non-pregnant women.

Methods: Serum samples of suPAR concentrations were analyzed from 10 patients with severe pre-eclampsia, 10 patients with uncomplicated pregnancies and 10 non-pregnant women. SuPAR concentrations were analyzed with enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: SuPAR levels were significantly higher in pre-eclampsia 3.5 ng/mL (2.4 - 4.8 ng/mL) compared to healthy pregnancy 2.0 ng/mL (1.7 - 2.6 ng/mL) (P =0.008) or non-pregnant women 2.3 ng/mL (1.9 - 2.9 ng/mL) (P = 0.015). Meanwhile, suPAR concentrations in healthy pregnant patients did not differ from non-pregnant women (P = 0.211).

Conclusions: Serum suPAR levels are elevated in patients with severe pre-eclampsia implying that the systemic inflammatory response is enhanced in severe pre-eclampsia.