Serum nephrin levels in severe preeclampsia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To determine differences in serum nephrin levels in severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy and also its correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria. Methods: This study is an analytical observational with cross sectional study. The observation group consisted of severe preeclampsia (n= 30) and normal pregnancy group as a control (n= 30). Both groups measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure, proteinuria and serum nephrin using the Human NPHN (Nephrin) ELISA Kit. Statistical test were performed with Mann-Whitney test and the Spearman's rank test. A value of p<0.05 was considered significant. The study was conducted in the Obstetric Clinic Inward and Laboratorium Department of Clinical Pathology Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital/Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran on March-May 2019. Results: Levels of serum nephrin in the severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher than in normal pregnancies (6.4 ng/mL vs 4.2 ng/mL; p= 0.014). There is a positive weak correlation but statistically significant between serum nephrin with systolic blood pressure (r= 0.36; p= 0.02) but not significant to diastolic blood pressure (r= 0.3; p= 0.05). There is no significant correlation was found between serum nephrin levels and proteinuria (r= 0.18; p= 0.54). Conclusions: Levels of serum nephrin in the severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher than in normal pregnancies and there is a correlation between serum nephrin with systolic blood pressure.