Plasma soluble endothelial selectin is elevated in women with pre-eclampsia

The study was conducted to determine whether altered plasma concentrations of soluble selectins are involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, Maternal plasma samples were collected from 20 patients with preeclampsia, and from 20 matched normotensive patients with uncomplicated pregnancies. Samples were assayed for soluble endothelial selectin (sES), platelet selectin (sPS) and leukocyte selectin (sLS) by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The three soluble selectins were detectable in the plasma of all pre-eclamptic and control patients. The mean plasma concentrations of sPS and sLS were comparable between the groups. However, the mean plasma concentration of sES was significantly higher in the pre-eclamptic group compared with the control group (61 ng/ml +/- 30 ng/ml compared with 40 ng/ml +/- 17 ng/ml; P < 0.01). The selective increased plasma concentrations of sES in patients with pre-eclampsia provide specific evidence for endothelial activation and may reflect distinct pathways for neutrophil activation in pre-eclampsia.