Correlations of placental perfusion and PlGF protein expression in early human pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate temporal correlations between maternal serum placenta growth factor levels and placental perfusion in early human pregnancies.


METHODS
Systolic umbilical artery Doppler blood flow velocity indices at fetal and placental insertion sites were measured between 7 and 22 weeks of gestation from normal singleton pregnancies. Maternal serum placenta growth factor levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Maternal serum placenta growth factor levels showed an exponential increase at approximately 14 weeks of gestation. Placenta perfusion, as estimated by systolic Doppler blood flow indices, significantly increased with gestational age (P < .0001). There was a close association between placenta growth factor expression levels and evidence of increased placenta perfusion (P < .033).


CONCLUSIONS
The significant increase in serum placenta growth factor coincides with the increased perfusion of the maternal/fetal interface at approximately 12 to 14 weeks of gestation. Correlation of placenta growth factor expression and placental perfusion suggests that placenta growth factor may contribute to assuring adequate vascular development/function of the placenta early in gestation.
Welch
Paul C
PC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794-9672, USA.
Amankwah
Kofi S
KS
Miller
Patience
P
McAsey
Mary E
ME
Torry
Donald S
DS
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012212:Rheology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor