title: The relationship of angiogenic factors to maternal and neonatal manifestations of early-onset and late-onset preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors has been implicated in the pathogenesis and severity of preeclampsia. In this study, we evaluated serum levels of an angiogenic factor and an antiangiogenic factor - placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), respectively - in pregnant women with preeclampsia, as well as evaluating the impact of those factors on maternal and fetal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 44 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU). The preeclampsia was classified (by weeks of gestation at delivery) as early-onset (<34 weeks) or late-onset (≥34 weeks). We analyzed serum PlGF and sFlt-1, as well as urinary PlGF at admission to the ICU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the early-onset preeclampsia group, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was higher, as was serum sFlt-1, whereas serum PlGF was lower. Serum sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio correlated positively with proteinuria and length of maternal hospital stay and correlated negatively with birth weight. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio correlated positively with length of newborn stay in the neonatal ICU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Angiogenic imbalance is more pronounced in patients with early-onset preeclampsia and correlates with worse clinical outcomes, especially for the neonates.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil; Santa Joana Hospital and Maternity Center, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cilene Carlos
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rayol
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gozzani
authors.forename: Luciene Machado dos
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zampieri
authors.forename: Cristiane Bitencourt
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Woronik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1