Clinical Investigation

Immunohistochemical evaluation of VEGF, EGF-r and TGF-a In placental bed of preeclamptic pregnancies

  • Teksin Çirpan
  • Fuat Akercan
  • Mustafa Cosan Terek
  • Hasan Tayfun Özçakir
  • Gulsen Giray
  • Sermet Sagol

Turk J Obstet Gynecol 2007;4(3):184-189

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-r) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α) with the immunohistochemical staining at the placental bed biopsies of patients with preeclampsia. Design: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Biopsies from the placental bed were obtained from twelve patients with preeclapmsia and ten patients of control group during the cesarean section. The sections from the biopsies were subjected to immunohistochemical staining by using anti-VEGF, anti-EGF-r and anti-TGF-α antibodies and were examined by light microscopy. The staining intensities were graded semi-quantitatively and the H-scores were calculated by two histopatologist who were blinded to the groups. RESULTS: The VEGF expression was significantly lower in both myometrium and decidua of preeclamptic women compared to controls (77.2±25.4 versus 134±44.3, p=0.007; 170.2±17 versus 194.1±20.7, p=0.017, respectively).EGF-r expression also was significantly lower at both decidua and myometrium in the preeclamptic group (p0.05). CONCLUSION: VEGF and EGF-r expression is significantly lower at the placental bed in patients with preeclampsia.

Keywords: EGFR, placental bed, preeclampsia, TGF-a, VEGF