Adhesion molecules, activin and inhibin--candidates for the biochemical prediction of hypertensive diseases in pregnancy?

Background: The aim of the prospective study was to compare standard parameters as Doppler ultrasound and 24-h blood pressure measurement with possible maternal serological markers regarding their prognostic value in predicting hypertensive diseases in pregnancy.

Materials: Twenty-four-hour blood pressure measurement was performed before and after 32+0 gestational week in 57 pregnant women with either chronic hypertension ( n=13), preeclampsia ( n=21), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH; n=12) or normotension ( n=11). Blood samples were taken and the concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), activin A and inhibin A were determined as well as serum uric acid, creatinine, total serum protein and serum albumin.

Positive serum crossmatch as predictor for graft failure in HLA-mismatched allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation.

Background: Evaluation of patient sera for complement-fixing anti-donor antibodies (serum crossmatch [XM]) before allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation (BSCT) is routine in most centers. However, in contrast to kidney transplantation, the predictive value of a positive XM for outcome of BSCT is still unclear, and a positive XM is presently not regarded as an absolute contraindication to proceed to transplant.

Methods: To clarify the role of a positive XM as predictor for overall survival (OS) and graft failure (GF) after BSCT, a retrospective, single-center, matched-pair analysis was performed.