RESEARCH ARTICLE First Trimester Screening of Circulating C19MC microRNAs Can Predict Subsequent Onset of Gestational

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate risk assessment for gestational hypertension based on the profile of circulating placental specific C19MC microRNAs in early pregnancy. Study design: The prospective longitudinal cohort study of women enrolled at first trimester screening at 10 to 13 weeks was carried out (n5267). Relative quantification of placental specific C19MC microRNAs (miR-516-5p, miR-517*, miR-518b, miR-520a*, miR-520h, miR-525 and miR-526a) was determined in 28 normal pregnancies and 18 pregnancies which developed gestational hypertension using real-time PCR and a comparative Ct method relative to synthetic C. elegans microRNA (cel-miR-39). Results: Increased extracellular C19MC microRNA plasmatic levels (miR-516-5p, p,0.001; miR-517*, p50.007; miR-520h, p,0.001; miR-518b, p50.002) were detected in patients destined to develop gestational hypertension. MiR-520h had the best predictive performance with a PPV of 84.6 % at a 7.1 % false positive rate