Urinary placental growth factor and risk of preeclampsia

Abstract EN

Aim : This study was done to asses whether changes in the urinary concentrations of placental growth factor (PLGF) could be detected before the onset of clinical preeclampsia and to investigate the predictive value of this marker in preeclamptic women. Patients and Methods : This study was carried out on 60 pregnant women.

They were divided into two groups.

The studied groups included 30 preeclamptic women and 30 healthy pregnant women as control group.

Urinary placental growth factor concentrations were determined throughout gestation in all cases. Results : Urinary PLGF concentrations were significantly decreased in the study group in comparison with the control group throughout gestation.

The peak concentration of PLGF in the control group was noticed at 29-32 weeks and decreased thereafter.

Significant reduction of PLGF concentrations was noticed in mild preeclamptic cases, compared with cases in the control group.

Among cases in the study group urinary PLGF concentrations were significantly lowered in severe preeclamptic women compared with mild preeclamptic women.

After onset of preeclampsia, mean urinary PLGF concentrations was 44 pg / ml compared with 230 pg / ml in controls. Conclusion : Decreased urinary PLGF concentration is strongly associated with subsequent development of preeclampsia.

These results have exciting clinical implications and are likely to transform the detection and treatment of preeclampsia in the future and high risk women for preeclampsia may be the most likely to benefit from pharmacological intervention.

Large scale studies are needed in order to draw more valuable conclusions and recommendations.