The evaluation of maternal serum glycodelin level as a marker for the presence and severity of preeclampsia

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a common multisystemic disorder of pregnancy. Glycodelin is a glycoprotein belongs to the lipocalin superfamily. It acts as a regulator of immunosuppression activity, fertilization, implantation, and placentation. Objectives: To analyze serum glycodelin levels in PE and evaluate whether it correlates with the severity of the disease. Materials and Methods: A prospective case–control study included 60 women diagnosed with PE (subdivided into 30 pregnant women with mild PE and 30 pregnant women with severe PE) and 30 healthy normotensive pregnant women. Patient with multiple pregnancies, gestational trophoblastic diseases, in active labor, a history of medical diseases, or taking treatment were excluded from the study. Blood samples were taken for biochemical study; serum glycodelin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Patients with PE had significantly higher mean glycodelin levels as compared to the normal group. The glycodelin level ≥37.9 ng/mL had 96.70% sensitivity, 100% specificity, and 98% accuracy for the prediction of PE. The mean glycodelin was significantly higher in severe PE (102.3 ± 51.3) as compared to mild PE (45.2 ± 7.3) in pregnant women (P < 0.001). The glycodelin level ≥50.1 ng/mL had 86.7% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and 85% accuracy for the prediction of severe PE. Conclusions: Glycodelin is an appropriate marker for the diagnosis of PE and the categorization of disease according to severity.