The trend of VEGF-A and PlGF in pregnant patients: a perspective case-control study on 214 women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure plasmatic concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and placental growth factor (PIGF) in pregnant women, and to evaluate their relationship with age, hormonal status, gestational age, and different diseases of pregnancy.


METHODS
We selected a control group of 163 patients (96 fertile and 67 in menopause) and a group of 214 pregnant patients during the whole gestational period. VEGF-A and PlGF were assayed by ELISA and EIA methods, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney test.


RESULTS
The control group showed mean VEGF-A and PlGF values of 89.87 pg/ml and 10.22 pg/ml, respectively; PlGF showed the highest values in menopausal patients. The group of pregnant patients showed VEGF-A values of 27.05 pg/ml and PlGF values of 231.36 pg/ml respectively, with lower (for the VEGF-A) and higher (for the PlGF) statistical significance. These values were not influenced by biological age, but were related to gestational age: VEGF-A showed a decrease and PlGF an increase particularly after the 20th gestational week. PlGF showed a statistically significant decrease compared to physiological gestation in spontaneous and threatened abortions (p < 0.0001) and in ectopic pregnancies (p < 0.0001), an increase in ultrasound and CTG alterations (p < 0.05), and threatened premature delivery and uterine hypercontractility (p < 0.01); on the other hand VEGF-A showed a statistically significant increase in ectopic pregnancies (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF-A and PlGF may play a diagnostic and prognostic role in pregnancy. Further studies are required to better understand the meaning of variability of their values.
Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padua, Italy. titosilvio.patrelli@gmail.com
T S
TS
Patrelli
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S
Gizzo
M
M
Plebani
D
D
Basso
G
G
Capobianco
C
C
Bartolucci
A Bacchi
AB
Modena
M
M
Rondinelli
G B
GB
Nardelli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor