Endostatin levels and the risk of subsequent preeclampsia

Objective: To evaluate endostatin, an anti-angiogenic factor, in relation to the risk of preeclampsia (PE).

Study design: In this case control study, serum samples were collected at 11-17 weeks and 18-26 weeks' gestation. Endostatin levels were expressed as adjusted multiples of the median (MoM). Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the prediction of PE.

Results: A total of 77 women with PE and 150 controls were studied. Endostatin levels were significantly higher in women with PE compared to controls in both the first and the second trimester. At a cut-off level of 75th percentile of endostatin MoMs, the aORs for PE were 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-2.58) at 11-17 weeks and 1.77 (95% CI, 0.94-3.34) at 18-26 weeks, after adjustment for ethnicity and chronic hypertension. The aORs for early-onset PE were 3.51 (95% CI, 1.18-10.43) at 11-17 weeks and 2.17 (95% CI, 0.67-7.06) at 18-26 weeks.

Conclusions: Higher endostatin levels are associated with an increased risk of early onset PE. Endostatin alone, however, has a poor predictive value for clinical usefulness.