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2-Methoxyoestradiol levels and placental catechol-O-methyltransferase expression in patients with late-onset preeclampsia

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Deficiencies in placental catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and circulating 2-methoxyoestradiol (2-ME) have been shown to be related to early onset preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate levels of 2-ME in the serum and urine of patients with late-onset preeclampsia and to compare those levels to those of normal pregnant women. In addition, we examined placental COMT expression in both groups.

Methods

Fifteen patients with preeclampsia and 15 normal pregnant women were enrolled. 2-ME levels were evaluated by ELISA and placental COMT expression was examined by Western blot analysis.

Results

2-ME levels in serum [median 181.1 pg/mL, interquartile range (IQR) 119.6–244.3 vs. 61.2 pg/mL, IQR 12.0–133.7, respectively, p = 0.004] and urine (median 143.3 pg/mL, IQR 35.0–328.2 vs. 0.5 pg/mL, IQR 0.4–4.6, respectively, p < 0.001) were significantly increased in patients with late-onset preeclampsia compared to those in normal pregnant women at term. There was no significant difference in placental COMT expression between the two groups.

Conclusion

Increased levels of 2-ME in patients with late-onset preeclampsia might be a product of a compensatory mechanism in patients with late-onset preeclampsia.

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Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hyun-Joo Seol

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Guro Hospital, 97 Guro-Dong Gil, Guro-Gu, 152-703, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Geum-Joon Cho & Min-Jeong Oh

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Republic of Korea

    Hai-Joong Kim

Authors
  1. Hyun-Joo Seol
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  2. Geum-Joon Cho
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  3. Min-Jeong Oh
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Correspondence to Min-Jeong Oh.

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Seol, HJ., Cho, GJ., Oh, MJ. et al. 2-Methoxyoestradiol levels and placental catechol-O-methyltransferase expression in patients with late-onset preeclampsia. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 881–886 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2663-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2663-1

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