title: The relationship between the VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratio and threatened abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and placenta growth factor (PlGF) and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio in pregnant women with threatened abortion (TA) compared to uncomplicated pregnancies at the same gestational week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three pregnant women with TA and thirty-three pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies were included in this case-control study. The level of VEGF, sVEGFR-1, and PIGF was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The primary purpose of this study was to compare the VEGF, sVEGFR- 1, and PlGF levels and VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratios in pregnant women with TA and pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The secondary purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of these markers and gestational age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of the sVEGFR-1 [0.60 (0.21-1.68) vs. 0.24 (0.09-0.57) ng/ml], VEGF [39.10 (6.57-163.56) vs. 5.24 (0.84-15.08) ng/ml] and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio [68.64 (6.45-550.48) vs 24.12 (2.63-72.63)] were significantly elevated in women with TA (respectively, p: 0.001, p: 0.001, p: 0.001). However, PlGF did not elevate in women with TA [20.80 (3.13-93.11) vs 20.16 (1.22-49.91) ng/ml] (p: 0.473).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the hypothesis that increased levels of the VEGF and sVEGFR-1 and VEGF/SVEGFR-1 ratio may be associated with the pathogenesis of TA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical School, 06018, Etlik/Ankara, Turkey, drugurkeskin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keskin
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulubay
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dede
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozgurtas
authors.forename: Yahya Kemal
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Koçyiğit
authors.forename: Fevzi Nuri
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ergün
mesh_terms: D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1