title: Comparison of maternal serum PlGF and sFlt-1 between pregnancies with and without fetal hemoglobin Bart's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the levels of maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) between pregnancies with fetal hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's disease and unaffected pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one pregnancies at risk for fetal Hb Bart's disease scheduled for cordocentesis at 18-22 weeks were recruited into the study. Maternal serum PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations were measured before cordocentesis. Fetal blood samples were collected for thalassemia diagnosis based on fetal Hb typing using high-performance liquid chromatography. PlGF, sFlt-1, and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were compared between the fetal Hb Bart's group and the non-Hb Bart's group (normal Hb typing or α-thalassemia-1 carrier).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal serum concentration of PlGF was significantly higher in women with fetal Hb Bart's disease (18 cases) than those with unaffected fetuses (71 cases) (P = 0.008), whereas the concentration of sFlt-1 was not significantly different (P = 0.139). However, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was significantly lower in women with fetal Hb Bart's disease than those with unaffected fetuses (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placental growth factor may help differentiate affected from unaffected fetuses among pregnancies at risk, though further studies are needed to confirm its usefulness. In addition, preeclampsia prediction using these markers may be unreliable in pregnancies with placental dysfunction secondary to severe fetal anemia.
authors.affiliation: Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Fuanglada
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tongprasert
authors.forename: Kasemsri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srisupundit
authors.forename: Suchaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luewan
authors.forename: Theera
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tongsong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C030448:hemoglobin Bart's; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1