Relationship between serum cadherin 6 and 11 levels and severe and early-onset preeclampsia: A pilot study

Objective: Preeclampsia is a highly morbid disease of placental origin, life-threatening condition for both a pregnant woman and her fetus. Cadherin 6 and 11 are adhesion molecules that play an important role in trophoblastic development and placentation. In our study, we investigated the change in serum cadherin 6 and 11 levels in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Materials and methods: Pregnant women with preeclampsia were selected and compared with healthy women (as a control group) for a one-year study. The serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and cadherin levels 6 and 11 of participants were analyzed and compared.

Results: A total of 189 pregnant women were subdivided into 2 groups as preeclamptic (n=94) and women with healthy pregnancy (n=95). The cadherin 6 and cadherin 11 levels of the preeclamptic patients were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.001), and they were found to be significantly higher mainly in patients with early-onset and severe preeclampsia group (p=0.001). The cut-off cadherin 6 and 11 values for severe preeclampsia were found as 98.174 ng/mL and 1.92 ng/mL; with sensitivity of 88.3% and 84% respectively (p=0.001).

Conclusion: The data analysis showed elevated serum cadherin 6 and 11 levels associated with the severity and early onset of pre-eclampsia. Serum cadherin 6 and 11 levels can be a candidate marker for the prediction of preeclampsia.