High serum concentrations of lipopolysaccharide binding protein in pregnancies with pre-eclampsia

Aim: Pre-eclampsia is considered a multi-factorial disease, in which both fetal and maternal factors are involved in its onset. In this study, we aimed to test the longstanding hypothesis that the immune response to bacterial endotoxin could explain the etiology of pre-eclampsia. Methods: Serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) concentrations and the vaginal microbiome were compared between subjects with pre-eclampsia and those with normotensive pregnancies. Results: Serum LBP concentrations were higher in subjects with pre-eclampsia compared to those with normotensive pregnancies. LBP concentrations were poorly correlated with disease onset, blood pressure, birthweight, and placental weight. Moreover, there was no evidence of bacterial species specific to pre-eclampsia based on a comparative analysis of the vaginal microbiome of subjects with pre-eclampsia and those with normotensive pregnancies. Conclusion: Serum LBP concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with pre-eclampsia compared to those with normotensive pregnancies. The clinical significance of high serum LBP concentrations in pre-eclampsia requires further investigation.