الفهرس 
PathophysiologyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 171 |  |  |
| | | from | 171 | | |
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific syndrome of reduced organ perfusion secondary to vasospasm and endothelial activation (Cunningham et al., 2005).
The shallow placentation noted in preeclampsia is a result of the inability of trophoblasts to invade the decidual vessels (Weinstein 1985). this is contributed by the imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors produced by the placenta that may play a major role in mediating endothelial dysfunction.
sFlt-1 1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 – also known as VEGF receptor-1) is a tyrosine kinase protein that disables proteins that cause blood vessel growth. These proteins act as a receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic growth factor (Khalil et al., 2000).
The present study was designed to investigate the relationship of neonatal platelet count and levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1(sFlt-1) in the cord blood of preterm infants of preeclamptic mothers.
The neonates included in the present study were all premature infants, divided into 2 groups.
The study group included 47 preterm neonates associated with maternal preeclamptic toxemia with mean gestational age (32.09±1.16) weeks and mean birth weight (1.12±0.11) kg.
The control group included 25 preterm neonates not associated with maternal preeclamptic toxemia with mean gestational age (31.92±1.12) weeks and mean birth weight (1.21±0.10) kg.
Both groups were subjected to complete history taking, thorough clinical examination, gestational age assessment, birth weight measurement and determination of small for gestational age (SGA) status.CBC with differential count was done on the first day postnatal life and regularly every 3 days, maternal platelet count on day of delivery. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1 level was measured in the cord blood by ELISA technique.
In the present study there was no significant difference between the study and the control groups as regards gestational age, yet study group had significantly lower birth weight compared to the control group.
In the present study the incidence of preterms with small for gestational age (SGA) was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group. The number of preterms who delivered by caesarian section was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group.
Our study showed that 78.7% of the study group and 4% of the control group developed thrombocytopenia.
Our study revealed that study group had significantly lower maternal platelets count when compared to the control group.
The current study showed significantly lower total leukocytic count at day 1, 3, and6 and lower neutrophilic count at day 1 in the study group when compared to the control group, and showed that there was no statistical significant difference between the study and control groups as regards the hemoglobin at day 1and 3, but there was statistically significantly higher hemoglobin at day 6 in the study group when compared to the control group.
The present study showed significantly higher soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 when compared to control group, and there was a negative relationship between neonatal platelet count and cord blood sFlt-1 levels in infants with maternal preeclampsia.