Plasma placenta growth factor levels in midtrimester pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown decreased levels of placenta growth factor in serum of pregnant women with preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether levels of placenta growth factor are decreased b efore the clinical onset of preeclampsia, and whether placenta growth facto r levels are decreased in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth re striction. METHODS: From an ongoing longitudinal study, 101 plasma samples were collec ted from 72 pregnant women at weeks 11-21 of gestation. Placenta growth fac tor levels were determined retrospectively in plasma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations between plasma concentrations of placent a growth factor and pregnancy outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Plasma samples of 72 patients were analyzed. Forty-four patients h ad no pregnancy complications, 18 developed preeclampsia, and 10 women had pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction. Between week 17 and week 21 of pregnancy, a significantly lower level of placenta growth f actor was found in plasma of patients who later developed preeclampsia (n = 10), compared with control pregnancies (n = 25, P =.004). In women with a growth-restricted baby at birth (n = 5), levels of placenta growth factor w ere also low. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that plasma placenta growth factor levels are decreased before preeclampsia, is clinically evident. The data suggest tha t placenta growth factor may be useful to determine the relative risk of de veloping preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. (C) 2001 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.