Relation of vitamin D and IL-6 quantification in preeclampsia: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Preeclampsia. Vitamin D. Mild and severe preeclampsia. Inflammation.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a specific pregnancy disease characterized by hypertension
associated with proteinuria or injury to a target organ such as liver, central nervous
system or hematological system, after 20 weeks of gestation. Among the risk
factors that have been associated with PE are chronic hypertension, Diabetes
mellitus and extremes of maternal age. Complications of PE, such as eclampsia,
HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, increased activity of liver enzymes and low platelet
count) and multi-systemic dysfunction can directly affect the life of the mother and
fetus. Since the association of vitamin D deficiency with the development of the
disease and its severity has been described in the literature, it is important to
assess the mechanisms by which this association occurs in these patients. In
addition, there is evidence that the factors involved in angiogenesis can be used
as biomarkers of PE. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate the association of
vitamin D with development and severity of PE. As well as, to characterize the
mRNA expression of factors involved in angiogenesis (VEGF and sFlt-1) in these
patients. Eighteen pregnant women were recruited, which were divided into two
groups: PE Group (pregnant women with severe PE) and Control Group - CG
(normotensive pregnant women). First morning of urine and blood samples were
collected and used to assess the general metabolic profile of pregnant women.
Decreased values of total proteins, albumin and calcium was observed in the PE
group compared to the control group. Regarding uric acid, there was an increase
in the PE group. The experiments carried out and the results obtained so far,
demonstrate biochemical characteristics expected for patients diagnosed with PE.
It is necessary to finalize the stage of recruiting patients and evaluating gene
expression to obtain the necessary information to contribute to the elucidation of
the involvement of vitamin D in the pathophysiological mechanism of development
of preeclampsia.