167-POS] : The human endogenous protection system against cell-free hemoglobin is overwhelmed during preeclampsia - New biomarkers and potential targets for therapy

To study cell-free fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and the heme-scavenger α1- microglobulin (A1M) in patients with manifest preeclampsia (PE) and how these proteins performed as possible biomarkers of PE and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.We studied 150 plasma samples selected from a larger Swedish cohort collected at Lund University Hospital between 2005 and 2012. 100 patients had the diagnosis PE at the time of sampling and 50 were healthy pregnant controls. HbF was measured with a monoclonal ELISA method developed in our lab and α1-microglobulin (A1M) with a RIA-method previously described. A logistic regression model was developed to study the performance of HbF and A1M as diagnostic biomarkers of PE. Separate logistic regression models were developed to study the biomarkers as predictive markers of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Plasma levels of the biomarkers were correlated (Pearson's) to severity of PE (based on blood pressure level).We found significantly elevated levels of HbF (p=0.03) and A1M (p=0.04) in the PE group. HbF showed potential as predictive biomarker of fetal admittance to neonatal care unit.HbF and A1M concentrations were significantly elevated in plasma from patients with PE. This supports the hypothesis of a defect placental hematopoiesis as contributing to the pathogenesis of PE and A1M-production is increased as a physiological response to this. These proteins are potential biomarkers of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes of PE. Our findings in this study support findings from previous studies.U.D. Anderson: None. M. Gram: None. M. Jälmby: None. B. Åkerström: None. S.R. Hansson: None.