title: First-trimester serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, free vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor and uterine artery Doppler in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the first-trimester serum concentrations of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), free vascular endothelial growth factor (free-VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) in women who later developed preeclampsia (PE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively collected maternal serum samples were evaluated for sFlt-1, free VEGF, and PlGF levels in 63 cases who later developed PE compared with 252 unaffected controls. Serum levels of these angiogenic factors were measured using Quantikine immunoassays. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between angiogenic factors and PE. The relationship between the angiogenic factors and mean maternal uterine artery PI was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum sFlt-1 levels were not significantly different between the cases and controls. Mean free-VEGF levels were significantly higher in women destined to develop PE compared with the controls (P=0.04), and mean PlGF levels were significantly lower in women who later developed PE (P=0.01). There was no significant correlation between maternal mean uterine artery PI and angiogenic factors evaluated. Receiver-operating characteristic curves revealed that none of the factors were clinically useful for prediction in the first trimester of PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite some significant differences in the first-trimester serum levels of angiogenic factors, our models suggest that these factors are not clinically useful for prediction in women who later developed PE.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound and Basic Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Odibo
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Rada
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Goetzinger
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tuuli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Odibo
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Macones
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: England
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; 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*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012372:ROC Curve; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1