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Assessment of plasma cell-free DNA and ST2 as parameters in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

Hypertension Research volume 44, pages 996–1001 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences and predictive efficacy of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and human suppression of tumorigenesis 2 (ST2) among women with uncomplicated pregnancies and patients with gestational hypertension (GH) or preeclampsia (PE). This study included patients with GH (n = 41), patients with PE (n = 62), and women with uncomplicated pregnancies (n = 148). The cfDNA concentration was determined by qPCR, and the ST2 levels were measured by ELISA. A receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to measure the diagnostic performance of cfDNA and ST2. Our results showed that ST2 but not cfDNA was increased in the middle and third trimesters of normal pregnancy; ST2 and cfDNA were increased in GH and PE patients compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies. More importantly, plasma cfDNA and ST2 served as diagnostic biomarkers for GH and PE, and the AUCs were 0.883 and 0.734 for GH and 0.838 and 0.816 for PE, respectively. Moreover, their combination significantly elevated the diagnostic efficiency for GH and PE, with AUCs of 0.906 and 0.916, respectively. Plasma cfDNA and ST2 could be used as parameters for GH and PE.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC1001403 and 2019YFA0802600) and NSFC (31871512 and 31671199) to CZ. Support was also obtained from the Ji’nan Clinical Medical Science Technology Innovation Program (201704080) and the Shanghai Commission of Science and Technology (17DZ2271100).

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Lisheng Liu, Hua Li, Ning Wang

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Research, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan, Shandong, China

    Lisheng Liu & Cong Zhang

  2. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji’nan, Shandong, China

    Lisheng Liu, Ning Wang & Xingguo Song

  3. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ji’nan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Ji’nan, Shandong, China

    Hua Li

  4. Department of Clinical Laboratory, Ji’nan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Ji’nan, Shandong, China

    Ke Zhao

  5. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

    Cong Zhang

  6. Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China

    Cong Zhang

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  1. Lisheng Liu
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Correspondence to Cong Zhang.

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Liu, L., Li, H., Wang, N. et al. Assessment of plasma cell-free DNA and ST2 as parameters in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Hypertens Res 44, 996–1001 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-021-00650-0

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