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 preeclampsia 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.