Association of elevated serum heat-shock protein 70 concentration with transient hypertension of pregnancy, preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia: a case-control study

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the association between serum heat-shock protein (Hsp) 70 concentration and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. One hundred and forty-two pregnant women with hypertensive disorders (93 with preeclampsia, 29 with transient hypertension of pregnancy and 20 with superimposed preeclampsia) and 127 normotensive, healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Serum Hsp70 concentration was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum Hsp70 concentration was significantly higher in patients with transient hypertension of pregnancy, in preeclamptic patients and in patients with superimposed preeclampsia than in the control group (median (25-75 percentile): 0.66 (0.52-0.84), 0.55 (0.42-0.80), 0.61 (0.42-0.91) ng/ml vs 0.31 (0.27-0.39) ng/ml, respectively; P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed independent association of elevated serum Hsp70 level with transient hypertension of pregnancy, preeclampsia and superimposed preeclampsia. The difference in serum Hsp70 concentration between preeclamptic patients and the control group was statistically significant in each gestational age category. In the groups of preeclamptic and superimposed preeclamptic patients, there was no significant difference in serum Hsp70 concentration between mild and severe preeclamptic patients, between patients with late and early onset of the disease, as well as between preeclamptic patients without and with foetal growth restriction. In conclusion, serum Hsp70 concentration is elevated in transient hypertension of pregnancy, in preeclampsia and in superimposed preeclampsia. Circulating Hsp70 may not only be a marker for these conditions, but might also play a role in their pathogenesis. However, further studies are needed to explore its role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.