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OBJECTIVES: Maternal serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were evaluated in preeclampsia to investigate whether these molecules could be helpful with regard to this pregnancy complication. STUDY DESIGN: The study population was composed of 30 preeclamptic patients with a mean gestational age of 35.5 ± 4.6 weeks and 20 age-matched and gestational age-matched normotensive uncomplicated pregnancies (controls). Blood samples from 7 of the 30 preeclamptic patients and 15 of the 20 controls in the second trimester were also analyzed. Data were analyzed by parametric methods. RESULTS: Significantly higher maternal serum sVCAM-1 levels were found in both groups of preeclamptic patients with and without fetal growth restriction (981 ± 145 ng/ml; n = 13; p < 0.0005 and 846 ± 84 ng/ml; p < 0.02, respectively) compared with controls (668 ± 186 ng/ml). In contrast, no significant difference was found in maternal serum sICAM-1 levels between preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies, or in both adhesion molecules (1) in the controls between second and third trimester samples and (2) in the second trimester between pregnant women who developed preeclampsia later and gestational age-matched controls. CONCLUSION: These findings show a selective significant elevation of maternal serum sVCAM-1 in preeclampsia, with the highest values in cases complicated with fetal growth restriction, perhaps reflecting its angiogenic function. Hence, sVCAM-1 could be helpful in the diagnosis of this fetal complication in preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]