Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and C-reactive protein levels in pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnant women at third trimester

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of plasma pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in pre-eclampsia and their association with the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Sixty-seven women with pre-eclampsia symptoms were matched with 56 normal pregnant controls for gestational age, maternal age and parity. Both of the groups were third trimester. PAPP-A and CRP were measured in serum using chemiluminescence assay and nephelometry, respectively. Maternal serum levels of PAPP-A and CRP were increased in women with pre-eclampsia compared to controls. There were significant correlations between MAP and CRP (r = 0.372, P = 0.002) and MAP and PAPP-A parameters (r = 0.301, P = 0.013) in pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia. PAPP-A had no correlation with CRP in patients with pre-eclampsia and in normotensive pregnant women. We found higher levels of PAPP-A and CRP and the presence of a good correlation between CRP and MAP in pre-eclampsia.