Avaliação dos níveis de leptina em gestantes saudáveis e com pré-eclâmpsia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of leptin levels in the maternal plasma, umbilical cord plasma and placental tissue of normotensive and preeclamptic (PE) pregnant women. Patients and methods: Leptin levels were analysed in the maternal plasma, umbilical cord plasma and placental tissue of 50 women with preeclampsia and 67 normotensive pregnant women. Plasma and placental leptin were measured using the MagPlexTH-C microspheres system. Results: Leptin levels were 40 times higher in the maternal plasma and 82 times higher in the placental tissue of patients with preeclampsia in comparison to the controls. The geometric means found were 19.59 ng/mL and 163.31 mg/g in the PE group, and 13.96 ng/mL and 89.95 mg/g in the normotensive group, respectively. Analysis of the umbilical cord plasma showed no significant difference between the groups. The mean ratios found after adjustment for maternal age, BMI and gestational age were: maternal plasma (MR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.97, p=0.049), fetal plasma (MR=1.33; 95% CI: 0.85- 2.09, p=0.216) and placenta (MR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.11 - 2.98, p=0.019). Conclusion: Leptin values found in patients with preeclampsia are significantly increased in maternal plasma and placental tissue in comparison to the control. The extremely high levels in the placenta are believed to have resulted from studies that specifically aimed to evaluate biomarkers.