β‐globin DNA in maternal plasma as a molecular marker of pre‐eclampsia

Abstract

Objectives Levels of cell‐free foetal DNA in maternal plasma are higher in the presence of clinical features of pre‐eclampsia (PE). However, currently, this method is informative only in women bearing a male foetus, by amplification of Y‐specific sequences. In the present study, we overcame this limitation by examining quantitative distribution of β‐globin, a foetal gender–independent DNA marker. Methods We quantified β‐globin concentrations in the plasma of 207 pregnant women: control group, 164 subjects; affected group, 43 women affected by PE (n = 43). β‐globin concentrations were converted into multiples of the median of the controls (MoM), in order to assess the possible different distribution of β‐globin MoM in cases and controls. Results Adjusted MoM values were as follows: controls, 1.00 ± 0.71; affected group 4.03 ± 3.77 (p‐value < 0.001). Among the PE affected cases, MoM β‐globin values of cases with foetal growth restriction (FGR) were almost twice as great as those cases without FGR (p‐value = 0.003). Conclusion β‐globin levels are higher in the plasma of pregnant women with PE, especially in those cases complicated with FGR, and do not depend on foetal gender. Such a molecular marker can potentially be used in evaluating the pathophysiological severity of PE. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.