Selectins in normal pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and missed abortus

Selectins, are known to be increased in the serum of patients with pre-eclampsia, indicating that these molecules are possible markers of endothelial cell injury. In this study, we investigated P,E and L selectin levels in normal pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, and missed abortus. Plasma P and L selectins levels were significantly higher in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia than healthy controls; but plasma concentrations of E selectins were not different between these groups. Plasma P selectin was significantly higher in pre-eclampsia than normal pregnancy. Plasma concentrations of all selectins were significantly higher in missed abortus than healthy control. L selectin levels were higher in pre-eclampsia and missed abortus than normal pregnancy. We found the levels of selectins were increased in pre-eclampsia and missed abortus. Although selectins were suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, in conjunction with previous studies, we thought that elevated selectin levels are a non-specific consequence of endothelial injury rather than being a cause.