title: Combination of plasma-soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 and uterine artery Doppler for the prediction of preeclampsia in cases of elderly gravida.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of the combination of plasma-soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and uterine artery Doppler for the detection of preeclampsia in women of advanced age at 16-18 weeks of gestation and to identify associations between other pregnancy complications and abnormalities of these combined tests. The maternal plasma sFlt-1 level was measured, and uterine artery Doppler was performed at 16-18 weeks of gestation in 314 cases of elderly gravida. The main outcome was preeclampsia. Fourteen women (4.46%) developed preeclampsia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of uterine artery Doppler combined with plasma sFlt-1 for preeclampsia prediction were 28.6, 95.7, 23.5 and 96.6%, respectively. For the prediction of early-onset preeclampsia, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 80, 95.8, 23.5 and 99.7%, respectively. Patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler findings and an abnormal plasma s Flt-1 level (greater than 1724.5 pg ml(-1)) had a higher risk of preterm delivery (relative risk (RR)=3.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-7.59), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RR=52.06, 95% CI 5.71-474.45) and perinatal death (RR=17.35, 95% CI 1.13-265.64). Our findings indicate that the combination of uterine artery Doppler and sFlt-1 level at 16-18 weeks of gestation in cases of elderly gravida has a high predictive value for early-onset preeclampsia, but not for overall preeclampsia. This combination test may be a useful early second trimester screening test for the prediction of early-onset preeclampsia in cases of elderly gravida.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Lalita
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kulmala
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Vorapong
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Phupong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1