title: Placental growth factor: as an early second trimester predictive marker for preeclampsia in normal and high-risk pregnancies in a Turkish population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental growth factor (PlGF) is an angiogenetic factor and inducts the development of preeclampsia in a hypoxic environment. In this study, we examined maternal blood PlGF levels in a pregnant population between 16 and 19 weeks of gestation for determining the prospective value for early diagnosis of preeclampsia as a screening test.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective cross-sectional study, 114 nulliparous normotensive pregnant women were selected for the control group and 34 patients who have chronic hypertension or had a medical history of hypertensive disorders in previous pregnancies were selected for the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group, the risk of preeclampsia increased 3.2 times when compared with the control with a confidence interval of 95 %. The cut-off value for PlGF for discriminating preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic patients was found to be 62.5 pg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with a medical history of hypertensive disorders and low PIGF levels in early second trimester have an increased risk for preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necmiye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dover
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hacer C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Gulerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celen
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahyaoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Talatpaşa Bulvarı, Samanpazarı, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yenicesu
keywords: Angiogenesis; Placental growth factor; Preeclampsia