A potential role of circulating LHCGR forms for the prediction of preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy

A recent abstract pertaining to using LHCGR forms for the prediction of preeclampsia was presented at the 13th World Congress in Fetal Medicine. The World Congress is designed both for those specializing in
fetal-maternal medicine and those with a more general clinical interest
who want to be updated on developments in the field. Leading
international experts and young researchers present and discuss the
latest developments in fetal medicine. 

Objective
To explore the possible role of circulating human chorionic gonadotrophin receptor (LHCGR) forms in the prediction of early and late preeclampsia (PE) in the first trimester of pregnancy, combined with maternal baseline risk, biophysical parameters and angiogenic factors.

Methods
A case-control study, within a cohort of 5, 759 pregnancies including 20 cases of early PE, 20 of late PE (cut-off: 34 weeks at delivery), 300controls. Maternal characteristics, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery (UtA) Doppler (11-13 weeks), placental growth factor (PlGF),soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFtl-1), circulating sLHCGR, and hCG-LHCGR complexes (8-11 weeks) were measured/recorded.  LHCGR difference (LHCGR-D) was calculated by subtracting hCG-LHCGR value from the corresponding sLHCGR. All parameters were normalized by logarithmic transformation, converted in MoM, and logistic regression analysis was used to predict PE.

Conclusion
Among LHCGR forms, the LHCGR-D improves substantially the prediction for early and late PE in first trimester, if used in algorithms. These new biomarkers seemed useful if used in combination (LHCGR-D) in the context of prediction of PE.

READ Entire AACC Scientific Abstract HERE