Predictive Role of First-trimester ELABELA Levels for Late-onset Preeclampsia.

Objective: To determine the predictive role of first trimester maternal serum ELABELA (ELA) levels in late-onset preeclampsia (PE).

Study Design: Comparative descriptive study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey between January and September 2019.

Methodology: A total of 600 pregnant women, whose maternal serum samples were collected through the first trimester screening test, were recruited. Twenty-three patients with late-onset PE group and 47 without PE group were included. All participants in whom maternal serum samples were collected between 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy were followed until delivery.

Results: Median ELA level was 654.53 [217.67-870.20] pg/mL in the PE group and 645.80 [367.25-1833.17] pg/mL in the control group, indicating no significant difference between the groups (p=0.408). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of frequency of history of hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and acute fetal distress (AFD), (p=0.003, p=0.016, and p=0.005, respectively). Three patients had preterm delivery in the PE group which was non-significant, while seven patients had gestational diabetes mellitus in PE group that was significantly higher compared to controls (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Only ELA level in the first trimester of pregnancy may not be of much value in predicting late-onset PE. Key Words: ELABELA, Preeclampsia, Late-onset, Predictive marker.