First-trimester serum levels of soluble endoglin and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 as first-trimester markers for late-onset preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this investigation was to assess soluble endoglin (sEng) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) as first-trimester serum markers to predict preeclampsia.


METHODS
First-trimester sera were obtained from 46 women with subsequent late-onset preeclampsia and from 92 controls. sEng and sFlt1 concentrations were determined immunoanalytically. Correlation analysis with inhibin A and placental growth factor levels was performed.


RESULTS
sEng and sFlt1 serum concentrations were higher in women with subsequent preeclampsia than in controls (mean +/- SD, sEng: 5.57 +/- 1.18 ng/mL vs 5.02 +/- 1.01 ng/mL, P = .009; sFlt1: 1764 +/- 757 pg/mL vs 1537 +/- 812 pg/mL, P = .036). Sensitivities and specificities for predicting preeclampsia were 63% and 57% for sEng and 64% and 56% for sFlt1, respectively. When sEng and inhibin A were combined, the sensitivity increased to 68%, whereas the specificity was 61%.


CONCLUSIONS
sEng and sFlt1 are increased in the first trimester in women with subsequent late-onset preeclampsia and might therefore prove useful to predict preeclampsia.
Baumann
Marc U
MU
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Bersinger
Nick A
NA
Mohaupt
Markus G
MG
Raio
Luigi
L
Gerber
Susan
S
Surbek
Daniel V
DV
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012995:Solubility; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015415:Biomarkers; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C422362:inhibin A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D007265:Inhibins; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1