Early prediction of preeclampsia using first-trimester maternal serum levels of vasohibin-1, cardiotropin-1, and endocan

Abstract

Aim

To explore the potential role of first-trimester serum levels of vasohibin-1, cardiotropin-1, and endocan in predicting the development of preeclampsia.

Methods

In this prospective case–control study, blood samples were collected from 1054 pregnant women during the first-trimester screening test. The preeclampsia group consisted of 43 pregnant women who developed preeclampsia, while the control group included 129 pregnant women selected from a pool of 777 women whose pregnancies progressed without complications. The selection of controls was performed using the SPSS program at a 1:3 ratio (one case to three controls). Levels of vasohibin-1, cardiotropin-1, and endocan in the samples were measured using the ELISA method with commercial kits.

Results

While serum levels of cardiotropin-1 and endocan did not differ between the preeclampsia and control groups, serum vasohibin-1 levels were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group (p = 0.301, p = 0.066, p = 0.010, respectively). In the ROC analysis conducted to determine the cut-off value of first-trimester serum vasohibin-1 in predicting preeclampsia (AUC: 0.631, 95% CI = 0.53–0.72), the optimal cut-off value for vasohibin-1 was identified as 1314.73 pg/mL, with a sensitivity of 60% and a specificity of 60%.

Conclusions

Although serum vasohibin-1 levels in the first trimester demonstrated low sensitivity and specificity for the early prediction of preeclampsia, our results indicate that elevated first-trimester vasohibin-1 levels may be linked to the subsequent onset of preeclampsia. Additionally, our findings suggest that first-trimester serum levels of cardiotropin-1 and endocan are not reliable markers for predicting the development of preeclampsia.