Examining the correlation between placental and serum placenta growth factor in preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Decreased levels of serum placenta growth factor (PlGF) are associated with preeclampsia. We sought to determine whether serum and placental levels of PlGF (sPlGF and pPlGF) are associated with preeclampsia and whether there is a correlation between serum and placental PlGF levels.


METHODS
These analyses were part of a larger, prospective, case-control study. Cases were women with preeclampsia. Controls were women without preeclampsia who delivered at term. Analyses included nonparametric tests to compare medians, logistic regression to estimate odds, and calculation of correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
Twenty-four cases (10 preterm, 14 term) were compared with 14 controls. Median levels of PlGF were significantly lower in cases than controls (pPlGF: 232.6 vs 363.4 pg/mL, P = .02; sPlGF: 85.5 vs 274.4 pg/mL, P < .001). Serum and placental PlGF were correlated (overall: 39%, P = .006; cases with preterm preeclampsia and growth restriction: 87%, P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum and placental PlGF are independently associated with preeclampsia and correlated with each other.
Maternal and Child Health Research Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. samantha.weed@uphs.upenn.edu
Samantha
S
Weed
Jamie A
JA
Bastek
Lauren
L
Anton
Michal A
MA
Elovitz
Samuel
S
Parry
Sindhu K
SK
Srinivas
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor