Placental growth factor and soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 in early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate whether alterations in plasma levels of the proangiogenic proteins placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and the antiangiogenic protein soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) were more pronounced in early-onset than in late-onset preeclampsia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the levels of sFlt1, PlGF, and VEGF-A in plasma in a control group of nonpregnant women, in an early control group of women at 24-32 weeks of gestation, in a late control group of women at 36-42 weeks of gestation, and in cases of women with early-onset (before 32 weeks of gestation) and late-onset (after 35 weeks of gestation) preeclampsia.


RESULTS
Women with early-onset preeclampsia had a 43 times higher median plasma sFlt1 level than early controls (P<.001). Women with late-onset preeclampsia had a three times higher median plasma sFlt1 level than late controls (P<.001). Women with early-onset preeclampsia had a 21 times lower median plasma PlGF level than early controls (P<.001). Women with late-onset preeclampsia had a five times lower median plasma PlGF level than late controls (P=.01). The median level of VEGF-A in plasma was less than 15 pg/mL in all groups of pregnant women.


CONCLUSIONS
Both early- and late-onset preeclampsia are associated with altered plasma levels of sFlt1 and PlGF. The alterations are more pronounced in early-onset rather than in late-onset disease.
Wikström
Anna-Karin
AK
Departments of Women's and Children's Health, Medical Sciences, Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. anna-karin.wikstrom@kbh.uu.se
Larsson
Anders
A
Eriksson
Ulf J
UJ
Nash
Peppi
P
Nordén-Lindeberg
Solveig
S
Olovsson
Matts
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1