Preeclampsia is associated with reduced serum levels of placenta growth factor

OBJECTIVES: Adequate vascular development of the placental bed is essential for normal pregnancy. We assessed serum levels of placenta growth factor, an angiogenic factor, throughout normal pregnancy and determined its associ ation with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Serum samples were collected from (1) 308 healthy pregnant wo men throughout normal gestation, (2) at delivery from 30 each gestational a ge-matched patients with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, and (3) materna l and cord blood samples from normal deliveries with and without labor (n = 37 each). Placenta growth factor levels were determined with an antigen-ca pture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Maternal placenta growth factor levels during normal pregnancy inc reased from the first trimester to the late second trimester; they subseque ntly declined from 30 weeks' gestation to delivery. Significantly less mate rnal placenta growth factor (P<.0001) was found in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, and labor significantly lowered placenta growth factor lev els in both maternal (P =.0189) and cord serum samples (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of placenta growth factor during preeclampsia could influence endothelial cell and trophoblast function, thereby contribu ting to the pathogenesis of the disease.