To compare plasma levels of TIMP-4 between preeclampsia (PE) and healthy pregnant (HP) and to compare TIMP-4 values through of gestation periods (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester) and post-partum in HP (n = 18).
TIMP-4 was measured by ELISA. Pregnant were recruited in two different locations: Study 1 from Minas Gerais State (PE = 43 and HP = 36) and Study 2 from Sao Paulo State (PE = 20 and HP = 20). We found elevated plasma TIMP-4 levels in PE compared to HP in both in Study 1 and Study 2 (P = 0.0046 and P = 0.0007, respectively). In addition, in the Study 2 we performed correlation among TIMP-4 levels and clinical parameters. We found positive correlation with serum liver enzymes (ALT, r = 0.84, P = 0.004; and AST, r = 0.51, P = 0.02) and proteinuria (r = 0.66, P = 0.01); and negative correlations with newborn weight (r = −0.45, P = 0.04). Finally, we observed lack of significant differences among gestational age and postpartum periods in HP group.
PE present elevated levels of circulating TIMP-4 compared to HP and these levels are correlated with clinical parameters of disease.
This study was funded by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientıfico e Tecnologico (CNPq), and the Fundação o de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP-Brazil).