Maternal plasma transforming growth factor-β1 concentrations in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant Zimbabwean women

Abstract

Objective. We examined the relationship between maternal plasma transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) concentrations and risk of preeclampsia among women delivering at Harare Maternity Hospital in Zimbabwe. We evaluated the relationship in the context of maternal systemic inflammation using plasma tumor necrosis factor-α soluble receptor p55 (sTNFp55) as a marker. Methods. 132 women with preeclampsia and 180 controls were included in this case-control study analysis. Maternal post-diagnosis plasma TGF-β₁ and sTNFp55 concentrations were determined using immunoassays. Logistic regression procedures were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for confounders. Results. A linear increase in preeclampsia risk was observed with increasing quartiles of TGF-β₁ concentrations (p < 0.01). Women whose TGF-β₁ concentrations were ⩾ 25.1 ng/ml (quartile 4) had a 2.5-fold (95% CI 1.2–5.6) increased risk of preeclampsia as compared with those women whose concentrations were < 11.2 ng/ml (quartile 1). Relative to women with no evidence of systemic inflammation and no elevated TGF-β₁ concentrations, those women who were jointly positive for elevated TGF-β₁ and sTNFp55 concentrations experienced a 5.3-fold (95% CI 2.3–12.0) increased risk of preeclampsia. Conclusion. Overall, we noted that elevated TGF-β₁ is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. We also noted that the preeclampsia risk is exaggerated in the presence of maternal systemic inflammation.