Concentraciones de neuroquinina B como marcador de riesgo en pacientes con preeclampsia

Objective

To establish the usefulness of neurokinin B concentrations as a risk marker in patients with preeclampsia.

Method

A total of 100 patients were selected. Fifty patients with preeclampsia were selected as cases (group A) and 50 healthy normotensive pregnant women with a similar age and body mass index to the study group were selected as controls (group B). Blood samples were collected in all patients before labor and immediately after diagnosis in group B to determine neurokinin B concentrations.

Results

Statistically significant differences in neurokinin B concentrations were found between group A (16.3 ± 9.6 ng/L) and group B (3.5 ± 2.0 ng/L; P<.05). There was a positive and significant correlation with values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P<.05). A cut-off value of 5 pg/ml had a value under the curve of 0.93, sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 87.5%, a positive predictive value of 90.0%, a negative predictive value of 70.0%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 81.2%.

Conclusions

Concentrations of neurokinin B were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia than in healthy normotensive pregnant women. This peptide is useful as a risk marker in patients with preeclampsia.