الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a gestation-specific syndrome which causes high mortality as well as morbidity of the mother and fetus globally.
Preeclampsia is characterized by; newly developed hypertension (blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg systolic and ≥ 90 mmHg diastolic) after 20 weeks gestation, with or without newly developed proteinuria (≥ 0.3 grams in a 24 hour specimen of urine) or maternal organ damage such as liver insufficiency, low platelets count, renal dysfunction or pulmonary edema.
The pathogenesis of PE is due to a two-stage process. Firstly, improper placental development occurs. Thus, causing low placental blood flow and hypoxia of the placenta. This in turn releases soluble placental factors in the circulation of the mother, resulting in the second stage which is endothelial and vascular dysfunction of maternal blood vessels.
Also, PE happens due to an imbalance between anti-angiogenic factors and pro-angiogenic factors.
Our study aimed to compare serum soluble tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) levels in Egyptian women with preeclampsia to sTWEAK concentrations in a healthy pregnant control group and to correlate its concentrations with the outcome of pregnancy.
The study was performed on eighty pregnant females in the 3rd trimester after exclusion of twin or multiple pregnancies, patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, prior renal disease, chronic hypertension or receiving medications for any disease. Subjects were classified into two groups; forty pregnant females with preeclampsia and forty gestational age-matched females without preeclampsia included as controls.
Detailed history was taken and physical examination was done for all the participants. Also, laboratory investigations such as hemoglobin, platelet count, white blood cell count, liver functions and kidney functions were performed. Urinary protein/creatinine ratio was calculated. In addition, serum sTWEAK concentrations were determined by a commercially available ELISA.
Furthermore, all the participants had ultrasonographic examination for biometry, liquor, movements and flow resistance in the umbilical artery. Moreover, follow up was done till delivery as well as correlation of sTWEAK concentrations with maternal and fetal outcome.
In our study, a significant difference was discovered between the patient group and the control group as regards SBP and DBP.
Also, we found a statistically significant difference between the studied groups concerning laboratory investigations such as ALT, AST, serum creatinine, serum urea and urine protein/creatinine ratio (uPCR).
The maternal serum sTWEAK levels were significantly lower in PE patients compared with healthy pregnant controls.