Cerebral neurotrophic factor as a predictor of the severity of hypertensive complications in pregnancy

Introduction. We studied the quantitative content of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the serum of pregnant women with hypertensive disorders at 22 to 42 weeks' gestation. A correlation was found between brain plasma neurotrophic factor and the severity of preeclampsia and its complications, such as HELLP syndrome, placental detachment. The increase in BDNF reflects an increase in compensatory restorative functions of the nervous system. Increased brain neurotrophin reserve in severe complications of hypertensive disorders requires further study of the pathogenesis from the standpoint of neuroplasticity, which in turn will improve timely diagnosis and prevention. Purpose of the study — determination of quantitative serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor as a possible predictor of the severity of preeclampsia and its complications. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the M.A. Tver'e Maternity Hospital, Perm. Eighty-eight pregnant women at 22 to 42 weeks' gestation were examined, 77 of them with hypertensive disorders as chronic arterial hypertension, gestational arterial hypertension, preeclampsia, and HELLP syndrome. The comparison group consisted of 11 healthy pregnant women. The control group included 11 non-pregnant healthy women. Results. The presence of hypertensive complications in pregnancy and their correlation with the quantitative content of serum BDNF was studied. Discussion. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor determined in peripheral blood serum is one of the laboratory indicators that allow to predict the likely manifestations of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome and reliably determine the severity of these complications. Conclusion. In severe complications of hypertensive disorders a reliable increase of BDNF in blood serum was revealed, which in turn is a diagnostic marker of these conditions.