Evaluation of the maternal and umbilical vein serum sFas/sFasL system in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with intrauterine growth retardation

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the maternal and umbilical vein soluble Fas and its ligand (sFasL) serum levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).Patients and methodsThe study was carried out on 11 preeclamptic delivering patients in the third trimester of pregnancy with severe preeclampsia complicated by intrauterine growth retardation. The control group consisted of 12 healthy normotensive delivering patients with singleton uncomplicated pregnancies, without any renal, heart and vascular diseases and with normal laboratory tests. Maternal and umbilical serum soluble Fas and FasL concentrations were estimated using a sandwich ELISA assay.Results and conclusionsIncreased maternal and umbilical vein serum sFas and increased umbilical vein serum sFasL levels were found in the study group in comparison with the control group. In our study in both groups of patient higher maternal sFas values were observed in comparison with the umbilical cord blood. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the role of Fas/FasL pathway in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation