Placental growth factor in the first trimester: relationship with maternal factors and placental Doppler studies.
OBJECTIVE
Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that impacts on early placental vascular development. It was our aim to clarify relationships between PlGF and first-trimester maternal/placental factors that are related to placental development.


METHODS
Prospectively enrolled patients at 11-14 weeks' gestation had serum PlGF measurement by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results were related to maternal age, parity, race, body mass index, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), smoking/caffeine use and parameters of placental blood flow resistance.


RESULTS
In 110 consecutive patients PlGF levels ranged between 1.0 and 176.1 pg/mL, showing a linear relationship with gestational age (GA) (PlGF = (1.4251 x GA) -74.951, r(2) = 0.0765, F = 8.941, P = 0.03). PlGF did not relate to maternal demographics but negatively correlated with MAP (Spearman rho = -0.191, P < 0.05). Bilateral uterine artery notching was associated with lower PlGF (40.7 (range, 1.01-131.6) vs. 51.1 (range, 6.4-176.1) pg/mL; Mann-Whitney P = 0.034.). A trend to lower levels was also observed when umbilical artery end-diastolic flow was absent (37.1 (range, 6.8-95) vs. 49.3 (range, 1.01-176.1) pg/mL; P = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PlGF in the first trimester is related to maternal cardiovascular factors and placental Doppler findings that are associated with subsequent placental dysfunction. The utility of this parameter as a first-trimester screening tool on a population basis requires further investigation.
Kasdaglis
T
T
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. tkasdaglis@upi.umaryland.edu
Aberdeen
G
G
Turan
O
O
Kopelman
J
J
Atlas
R
R
Jenkins
C
C
Blitzer
M
M
Harman
C
C
Baschat
A A
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D010926:Placental Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D010929:Placentation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C064980:GH2 protein, human; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D010926:Placental Hormones; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D013006:Growth Hormone