Use of placental growth factor and uterine artery doppler pulsatility index in pregnancies involving intrauterine fetal growth restriction or preeclampsia to predict perinatal outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
The potential of uterine artery (UA) Doppler pulsatility index (PI) and maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) level to predict perinatal outcome was explored in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) or preeclampsia (PE).


METHODS
This longitudinal, prospective, and case-controlled study was conducted over a period of 24 months. At-risk pregnancies involving small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses, IUGR, gestational hypertension (GH), or PE were investigated, analyzing UA Doppler PI findings and maternal PlGF levels determined at the time of diagnosis (third trimester).


RESULTS
UA Doppler PI and maternal serum PlGF values differed significantly in pregnancies complicated by IUGR and/or PE (vs. SGA or GH, p < 0.01). In the context of IUGR or PE, both parameters also differed significantly by perinatal outcome (adverse vs. normal, p < 0.01), although no predictive advantage over UA Doppler PI alone was conferred by adding a PlGF assay.


CONCLUSIONS
UA Doppler PI and maternal serum PlGF determinations in the third trimester help identify pregnancies at the highest risk of adverse perinatal outcomes due to IUGR and/or PE. Although joint testing confers no predictive benefit over UA Doppler PI alone, the two diagnostics are interchangeable for this purpose.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sant Joan de Déu University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
M Dolores
MD
Gomez-Roig
Edurne
E
Mazarico
Joan
J
Sabria
Johanna
J
Parra
Laia
L
Oton
Antonio
A
Vela
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor