Plasma levels of inflammatory markers neopterin, sialic acid, and C-reactive protein in pregnancy and preeclampsia.

Background: To determine whether the cellular inflammatory marker of activated macrophages and monocytes, neopterin (NEO), and the acute-phase inflammatory markers sialic acid (SA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are elevated in pregnancy and further elevated in the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia.

Methods: Maternal plasma concentrations of NEO, SA, and CRP were measured by high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or high-performance liquid chromatography in 20 nonpregnant women, 40 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, 50 women with transient hypertension of pregnancy alone, 49 women with small for gestational age (SGA) infants without preeclampsia, and 47 women with preeclampsia.

Results: The mean concentration of plasma NEO, SA, and CRP were all significantly elevated in all groups of pregnant women compared to nonpregnant women (P < 0.

Maternal-fetal metabolism in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

Adaptation to pregnancy in humans involves major anatomic, physiologic and metabolic changes in the mother in order to support and provide for the nutritional and metabolic needs of the growing conceptus. Metabolically, pregnancy is marked by several important and dynamic adjustments including increased insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia and changes in protein and amino acid metabolism. In general, these metabolic adaptations serve to increase nutrient availability for the benefit of the growing fetal-placental unit.