Antônio Carlos

Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) Is a Surrogate Marker in Preeclamptic Hypertension

Objective: To evaluate plasma levels of angiogenic factors and their association with preeclampsia. Methods: Twenty-three women with preeclampsia and nine normotensive pregnant women from the Maternity of Hospital das Clínicas of Belo Horizonte/MG-Brazil were assessed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Creteria (NHBPEPWG). The plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Placental growth factor (PlGF) were determined by ELISA assay. Results: Plasma concentration of PlGF was 12-fold lower in preeclampsia versus non preeclampsia pregnancies. An inverse correlation was observed between PlGF plasma levels and mean arterial pressure (MAP); a decrease in 1pg/mL of PlGF resulted in 6.18 mm Hg increase in MAP. Conclusion: These results indicate that PlGF is related to MAP in pregnant women.

Association between emotional symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and the risk of developing depressive symptoms in the postpartum period

This study verified a possible association between emotional status in the pre-menstrual period (emotional PMS) and the risk of postnatal depression. Were included 94 women in the immediate postpartum period at the Maternity Hospital of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Hospital das Clinicas from July 2011 to August 2012. Questionnaires were used to assess pre-menstrual symptoms and to determine the Edinburgh Scale for the risk of developing postnatal depression. Reports of three or more emotional symptoms in the premenstrual period and a score of 12 or more in the Edinburgh Scale were correlated using chi-square test, with a p<0.05 considered for relevance. The Relative Risk (RR) for an association between emotional PMS and a higher risk of postnatal depression was calculated and considered significant. Emotional changes were associated to a 3.78 RR of emotional PMS and increased risk to develop postnatal depression. It is possible that both situations have pathophysiologic similarities in the release of neurotransmitters particularly affected by hormonal changes that happen in both the moments. A well-defined emotional PMS predisposes to increased risk of puerperal depression.

Endothelial function and uterine perfusion and subsequent pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

Introduction: the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia (PE) is based on a deficiency in the placenta formation process, associated to systemic maternal endothelial dysfunction. The occurrence of these phenomena before the appearance of the clinical manifestations of PE should be investigated, considering that new propaedeutic methods are available for prediction. Objective: to compare placenta formation process and endothelial function of high-risk pregnant women and correlate them with the occurrence of PE. Patients and methods: 74 pregnant women were subjected to flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and Doppler flux of uterine arteries to assess the endothelial function and the placenta formation process, respectively, between the 16th and 20th gestation weeks and followed until the puerperal period. Results: 15 patients had their pregnancies complicated by PE while 59 remained normotensive until the puerperium. Patients who subsequently developed PE showed, between gestation weeks 16 and 20, high scores in the pulsatility index for uterine arteries (p<0.001), but the FDM analysis presented no difference in relation to the patients who continued normotensive. Conclusion: data suggest that deficiencies in the placenta formation process chronologically precedes the clinical manifestation of PE, which does not occur with endothelial dysfunction.