The Expression Of VEGF And SFlt-1 In Serum And Placenta Of Patients With Preeclampsia In Cold Climates

Objective:To investigate the expression of VEGF and sFlt-1 in serum and placenta of pregnant women with preeclampsia in cold climate。Methods:Pregnant women who were diagnosed with preeclampsia and admitted in our hospital between January 2013 and February 2014 were collected, and divided into winter group(November–February of following year, n =30) and transition season group(March–May or September–October, n =30) according to the time clinical symptoms occurred. 20 normal pregnant women of the same period were selected as well. Expression levels of VEGF and sFlt-1 protein in peripheral serum of pregnant women were measured by ELISA assay, and placental localization and expression of VEGF and sFlt-1 were detected by IHC.Results:1.Compared with the normal pregnancy group, VEGF expression decreased while sFlt-1 expression significantly increased in serum and placenta of pregnant women with preeclampsia.2.Compared with the transition season group, serum and placental VEGF expression decreased in winter group. Serum sFlt-1 expression was significantly higher for the winter group than the transition season group. Meanwhile, placental sFlt-1expression of pregnant women with preeclampsia in the winter group was higher than the transition season group, but not statistically significant.Conclusions:1.Cold weather conditions may exacerbate the placental hypoxia, cause decreased VEGF and increased sFlt-1, and eventually lead to the clinical symptoms of preeclampsia.2.VEGF and sFlt-1 are involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and play important roles.