Cerebral biomarkers in neurologic complications of preeclampsia
Journal article, 2022

Background: There is no tool to accurately predict who is at risk of developing neurologic complications of preeclampsia, and there is no objective method to determine disease severity. Objective: We assessed whether plasma concentrations of the cerebral biomarkers neurofilament light, tau, and glial fibrillary acidic protein could reflect disease severity in several phenotypes of preeclampsia. Furthermore, we compared the cerebral biomarkers with the angiogenic biomarkers soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, placental growth factor, and soluble endoglin. Study Design: In this observational study, we included women from the South African Preeclampsia Obstetric Adverse Events biobank. Plasma samples taken at diagnosis (preeclampsia cases) or admission for delivery (normotensive controls) were analyzed for concentrations of neurofilament light, tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein, placental growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1, and soluble endoglin. The cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of inflammatory markers and albumin were analyzed in a subgroup of 15 women. Analyses were adjusted for gestational age, time from seizures and delivery to sampling, maternal age, and parity. Results: Compared with 28 women with normotensive pregnancies, 146 women with preeclampsia demonstrated 2.18-fold higher plasma concentrations of neurofilament light (95% confidence interval, 1.64–2.88), 2.17-fold higher tau (95% confidence interval, 1.49–3.16), and 2.77-fold higher glial fibrillary acidic protein (95% confidence interval, 2.06–3.72). Overall, 72 women with neurologic complications (eclampsia, cortical blindness, and stroke) demonstrated increased plasma concentrations of tau (2.99-fold higher; 95% confidence interval, 1.92–4.65) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (3.22-fold higher; 95% confidence interval, 2.06–5.02) compared with women with preeclampsia without pulmonary edema; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count; or neurologic complications (n=31). Moreover, angiogenic markers were higher, but to a lesser extent. Women with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (n=20) demonstrated increased plasma concentrations of neurofilament light (1.64-fold higher; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–2.55), tau (4.44-fold higher; 95% confidence interval, 1.85–10.66), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (1.82-fold higher; 95% confidence interval, 1.32–2.50) compared with women with preeclampsia without pulmonary edema; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count; or neurologic complications. There was no difference shown in the angiogenic biomarkers. There was no difference between 23 women with preeclampsia complicated by pulmonary edema and women with preeclampsia without pulmonary edema; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count; or neurologic complications for any of the biomarkers. Plasma concentrations of tau and glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased in women with several neurologic complications compared with women with eclampsia only. Conclusion: Plasma neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic, and tau were candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis and possibly prediction of cerebral complications of preeclampsia.

eclampsia

preeclampsia

glial fibrillary acid protein

tau

neurofilament light

prediction

cerebral biomarkers

Author

Lina Bergman

Uppsala University

Stellenbosch University

University of Gothenburg

Roxanne Hastie

University of Melbourne

Mercy Hospital for Women

Emma Bokström-Rees

University of Gothenburg

Henrik Zetterberg

UK Dementia Research Institute

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

University of Gothenburg

University College London (UCL)

Kaj Blennow

Sahlgrenska University Hospital

University of Gothenburg

Sonja Schell

Stellenbosch University

Henrik Imberg

Statistiska Konsultgruppen

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Applied Mathematics and Statistics

Eduard Langenegger

Stellenbosch University

Ashley Moodley

Stellenbosch University

Susan Walker

University of Melbourne

Mercy Hospital for Women

Stephen Tong

University of Melbourne

Mercy Hospital for Women

Catherine Cluver

Mercy Hospital for Women

Stellenbosch University

University of Melbourne

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

0002-9378 (ISSN) 1097-6868 (eISSN)

Vol. 227 2 298.e1-298.e10

Subject Categories

Other Clinical Medicine

Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems

Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.ajog.2022.02.036

PubMed

35257666

More information

Latest update

3/7/2024 9