The Complement System and Preeclampsia

Jean F. Regal, Richard M. Burwick, Sherry D. Fleming

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Preeclampsia affects 3–4% of pregnancies with few treatment options to reduce maternal and fetal harm. Recent evidence that targeting the complement system may be an effective therapeutic strategy in prevention or treatment of preeclampsia will be reviewed. Recent Findings: Studies in humans confirm the safety and efficacy of C5 blockade in complement-mediated disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia. Animal models mimic the placental abnormalities and/or the maternal symptoms which characterize preeclampsia. These models in mouse and rat have defined a role for complement and its regulators in placental dysfunction, hypertension, proteinuria, endothelial dysfunction, fetal growth restriction, and angiogenic imbalance, thus informing future human studies. Summary: Targeting excessive complement activation, particularly the terminal complement complex (C5b-9) and C5a may be an effective strategy to prolong pregnancy in women with preeclampsia. Continued research is needed to identify the initiator(s) of activation, the pathways involved, and the key component(s) in the pathophysiology to allow development of safe and effective therapeutics to target complement without compromising its role in homeostasis and host defense.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number87
JournalCurrent Hypertension Reports
Volume19
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Keywords

  • Complement system
  • Innate immunity
  • Placenta
  • Placental ischemia
  • Preeclampsia
  • Pregnancy

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