title: Maternal Plasma Nerve Growth Factor at the 11+0-13+6 Weeks' Scan as a Potential Angiogenic Marker of Preeclampsia: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the first-trimester screening for preeclampsia (PE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Uterine artery Doppler (UtAD) was determined transvaginally. Maternal concentrations of NGF were assessed in 42 patients who subsequently developed PE and in 95 controls. Quantile and multivariate regression analyses were performed for the NGF and UtAD adjustment and expressed as the multiple of the median (MoM) of the unaffected group. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the best model for the prediction of PE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maternal plasma concentration of NGF exhibited a trend towards lower values in patients who subsequently developed early-onset PE (e-PE) compared to controls (10.7 vs. 38.2 pg/ml, respectively; p = not significant). The median MoM NGF in the all-PE, e-PE and control groups was 0.97 (95% CI 0.13-3.36), 0.62 (95% CI 0.16-2.19) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.20-2.94), respectively (p = not significant). The best predictors of PE were previous PE, chronic hypertension and UtAD. With a false-positive rate of 10%, the detection rates (DRs) of all-PE and e-PE were 38 and 50%, respectively. The addition of MoM NGF did not improve the DR of PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  First-trimester NGF tends to be lower in patients who subsequently develop e-PE.
authors: Fetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors: Alvaro
authors: A
authors: Sepúlveda-Martínez
authors: Maritza
authors: M
authors: Garrido
authors: Egardo
authors: E
authors: Caamano
authors: Margarita
authors: M
authors: Vega
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Romero
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Parra-Cordero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: First trimester; Nerve growth factor; Prediction; Preeclampsia; Uterine artery Doppler