Transforming growth factor β1 levels in platelet depleted plasma in African women with preeclampsia

Recently it has been suggested that TGF-β1 may play an important role in trophoblast invasion of spiral arteries in preeclampsia. This study was designed to investigate TGF-β1 levels in pre-eclampsia. Platelet depleted plasma TGF-β1 levels were measured by ELISA in 43 normotensive healthy non-pregnant women, 30 normotensive healthy pregnant and 42 pre-eclamptic women: TGF-β1 levels were increased significantly in the pre-eclamptics (4.9±0.9 ng/ml) compared to the normotensive pregnant (1.9±0.54 ng/ml; P<0.001) and normotensive non-pregnant groups (2.1±0.41 ng/ml; P<0.0001). There was no significant difference in TGF-β1 levels between normotensive pregnant and non-pregnant groups (1.9±0.54 vs. 2.1±0.41 ng/ml; P=0.2). There was a highly significant correlation between neonatal weight (r=0.63; P<0.0001) and TGF-β1 levels. The finding of increased levels of plasma TGF-β1 suggests an aetiological role of this peptide in pre-eclampsia.