Publication:

Evaluation of serum placental growth factor in predicting pregnancy outcomes in women with suspected pre-eclampsia

Background Amount of Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) in the blood at 9 to 11 weeks before the onset of clinical signs of pre-eclampsia is reduced. So, diagnostic tests based on the pathophysiology of disease such as PLGF as an ideal marker for early screening in the diagnosis and management of women with preeclampsia, may be useful. The aim of this study was to investigate PLGF in predicting pregnancy outcome in women with suspected pre-eclampsia.

Methods A case - control study was conducted on 30 women with suspected pre-eclampsia and 101 healthy pregnant women which selected randomly among all pregnant women referred to clinic. Both groups were followed until pregnancy termination and in terms of pregnancy outcomes (Gestational age, Type of delivery and birth weight). Two groups were matched in terms of age, weight, education, substance abuse and socio-economic status. Placental growth factor assay was done by ELISA kit. Data collected by a checklist and analyzed by statistical methods in SPSS.19.

Results The mean PLGF level was lower for women who experienced preeclampsia compared with healthy women (71.5 pg/ml vs 272.1 pg/ml, p=0.001). Also, PLGF concentrations was very low in women with preeclampsia who had a preterm birth prematurity.

Conclusions Study findings identified PlGF as an ideal, simple and non-invasive marker for primary screening at prenatal care for women at risk of pre-eclampsia.