First Trimester Placental Growth Factor and Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 and Risk for Preeclampsia

An imbalance of pro- and antiangiogenic factors may lead to preeclampsia (PE). In this prospective nested case-control study, we investigated whether first trimester serum levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), a potent angiogenic factor, and its soluble inhibitor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), distinguished women who developed PE (n = 40) from those who developed gestational hypertension (n = 40), delivered a small for gestational age (SGA) newborn (n = 40), or completed a full term normal pregnancy (n = 80). Compared with controls, serum PlGF levels were lower among women who developed PE (23 ± 24 pg/ml vs. 63 ± 145 pg/ml; P 39 pg/ml) PlGF tertile. First trimester serum levels of PlGF and sFlt1 may identify women at high risk for PE.