Serum placental growth factor in late first trimester of pregnancy for prediction of preeclampsia in primigravida - a case control study

Abstract

Background: We studied the correlation of serum PLGF levels at 11-14 weeks in primigravida for prediction of future preeclampsia in a prospective nested case control study and estimated the critical levels of PLGF for possible use as screening test.Methods: Subjects with preeclampsia/gestational hypertension were taken as cases with an equal number of controls.Results: Out of 300 participants, final analysis was possible in 291 subjects. Thirty five were cases; two had early PE, 15 late PE and 18 had GH. PLGF level was lower in cases (20 pg/ml) compared to controls (79 pg/ml). PLGF was significantly lower in PE cases (15 pg/ml) compared to GH cases (34 pg/ml). PLGF had maximum area under the ROC curve (AUC) for PE with value of 0.867. Further, late PE had more AUC (0.853) as compared to GH (0.759). The cut off value for prediction of PE was found to be <30 pg/ml with 88.2% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity.Conclusions: PLGF levels were significantly lower in first trimester serum samples of subjects who later developed either preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. PLGF had better detection rate for PE and late PE as compared to GH.

Association of Maternal Serum PIGF Levels as a Biomarker in Preeclampsia: A Case Control Tertiary Care Hospital Based Study

“…From northern part of India, in Delhi by Agarwal et al, a study was performed on 17 PE cases, the levels of PIGF were compared between early and late PE but not statistically significant between early and late PE but when compared to PE and controls the levels were significant. The cut-off values in early PE were <30 pg/ml with 88.2% sensitivity and 71.4% and in late PE was <32 pg/ml with a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 74.3% [3]. In a cohort study by Ghosh et al, from Delhi, measured maternal serum PlGF levels at 11-14 weeks and 22-24 weeks of gestation.…”

“…Concentrations of PlGF are low in the first trimester of an uncomplicated pregnancy and increases from 11 to 12 weeks onwards to a peak at 30 weeks, after which it decreases. Standard levels of PlGF are dependent on gestational age, normal levels ranging from approximately 141 pg ml− 1 at around 30 weeks gestation to 23 pg ml− 1 at term [3]. The main role of PlGF in tissues is angiogenesis, imbalance in the concentration of PIGF levels leads to pathological ischemia.…”