Arch Gynecol Obstet (2007) 276:151–157 DOI 10.1007/s00404-006-0316-y 123 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Altered plasma neurokinin B levels in patients with pre-eclampsia Verena Geissbuehler · Rene Moser · Kathrin Zimmermann · Renate Hillermann · Janusz Czarniecki · Stefan G. Gebhardt · Jakob Eberhard Received: 1 October 2006 / Accepted: 21 December 2006 / Published online: 21 February 2007  Springer-Verlag 2007 Abstract Objective(s) This study determines the levels of Neurokinin B (NKB) in the plasma of South African coloured pregnant women with and without pre- eclampsia (PE) and correlates these results with clini- cal data. Additionally, the peptide radioimmunoassay (RIA) and peptide enzyme immunoassay (EIA) meth- ods were compared in the determination of the Neu- rokinin B levels, using 58 samples from patients with PE. Methods At the Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, SA, 43 pregnant women with PE and 62 healthy pregnant women were recruited, and clinical data were gathered using questionnaires; 58 patient samples were tested by both RIA and EIA. Results The comparison of RIA and EIA revealed an r-value of 0.904. The mean NKB concentration in the PE group (23.5 ng/l) was signiWcantly higher than in the control group (3.8 ng/l). Within the PE cohort, two NKB subgroups could be discerned: those with levels <30 ng/l and those with levels >30 ng/l. Conclusion(s) This study, carried out within a distinct population, conWrms previous reports of elevated NKB levels in the plasma of pre-eclamptic women in the third trimester, and established the suitability of EIA for determining NKB levels. Whether the altered NKB levels are causative or merely associated with PE still remains to be determined. The split in the two NKB groups (high and low values) needs further evaluation, as does whether NKB could be used as a screening test or as a predictive factor. Keywords Pre-eclampsia · Neurokinin B · Hypertension · South African coloured (mixed ancestry group) · EIA · RIA Introduction Several publications indicate that the incidence of PE is higher than the cited rate of 2–3%, up to 5–7% of all pregnancies worldwide are aVected [1]. Pre-eclampsia is a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity (acute and long-term), perinatal deaths, preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation. In South Africa, hypertensive conditions in pregnancy are the second most common cause of maternal deaths (20.7%) after non-pregnancy related infections (31.4%), mainly AIDS [2]. PE is responsible for approximately 30% of the total perinatal-related loss at the index institution V. Geissbuehler · K. Zimmermann · J. Eberhard Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Kantonsspital Frauenfeld, Spital Thurgau AG, Frauenfeld, Switzerland R. Moser · J. Czarniecki IBR Inc. (Institute for Biopharmaceutical Research, Inc.), Matzingen, Switzerland R. Hillermann Department of Genetics, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa S. G. Gebhardt Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa V. Geissbuehler (&) Frauenklinik, Kantonsspital, Spital Thurgau AG, 8501 Frauenfeld, Switzerland e-mail: verena.geissbuehler@stgag.ch