# Maternal Serum Thrombospondin-4 Levels in Gestational Hypertension and Risk of Preeclampsia

## TL;DR

This study shows that higher levels of thrombospondin-4 in pregnant women with gestational hypertension are linked to an increased risk of preeclampsia and poor pregnancy outcomes.

## Contribution

The study identifies thrombospondin-4 as a novel potential biomarker for predicting preeclampsia in women with gestational hypertension.

## Key findings

- Maternal serum thrombospondin-4 levels were significantly higher in women with gestational hypertension compared to controls.
- Higher thrombospondin-4 levels were associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia and adverse perinatal outcomes.
- Thrombospondin-4 may serve as an independent biomarker for risk stratification in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

## Abstract

Background: Gestational hypertension (GHT) is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, and reliable biomarkers for risk stratification remain limited. Thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4), a matricellular glycoprotein implicated in vascular remodeling, may play a role in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate maternal serum TSP-4 levels in GHT and their associations with obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 44 women with GHT and 44 normotensive controls. Maternal serum TSP-4 levels were measured between 20–30 weeks’ gestation, and demographic, obstetric, and neonatal data were recorded. The development of preeclampsia (PE) and composite adverse perinatal outcomes (CAPO) was subsequently compared between the groups. Results: TSP-4 levels were significantly higher in the GHT group compared with controls (9.50 vs. 7.92 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Women with GHT had lower gestational age at delivery and birth weight, with higher rates of preterm delivery, fetal distress, NICU admission, and composite adverse perinatal outcomes (all p < 0.01). Within the GHT group, patients who developed PE had notably higher TSP-4 levels (13.45 vs. 9.33 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Elevated maternal serum TSP-4 is independently associated with GHT and progression to PE. TSP-4 may serve as a novel biomarker for risk assessment in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.