What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to evaluate how maternal PlGF levels relate to fetal growth restriction and the associated placental morphology and pathology.

April 28, 2026Open Access

Placental Growth Factor and Compromised Fetal Growth: Associations with Placental Ultrasound Morphology and Pathology in a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate how maternal PlGF levels relate to fetal growth restriction and the associated placental morphology and pathology.
Retrospective cohort of 305 patients
Measured maternal PlGF levels as primary exposure
Defined compromised fetal growth using Delphi criteria.
Low PlGF associated with compromised fetal growth (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.7-7.8; P < 0.0001)
Compromised growth linked to abnormal placental morphology (OR 4.2, 95% CI 2.5-7.2)
Increased risk for IUFD, preterm birth, and NICU admission associated with low PlGF and abnormal morphology.

Abstract

Introduction: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is often associated with placental dysfunction.Circulating placental growth factor (PlGF) is a promising biomarker for identifying pregnancies at risk of placental disease and FGR.This study evaluated how maternal PlGF levels relate to fetal growth and adverse perinatal outcomes, and how compromised growth relates to placental morphology/pathology and perinatal outcomes.Methods: Retrospective cohort of 305 patients.Maternal PlGF levels were measured as the primary exposure.The primary outcome was compromised fetal growth (FGR/SGA versus normal growth) defined by Delphi criteria.Secondary outcomes included abnormal sonographic placental morphology, placental pathology demonstrating maternal or fetal vascular malperfusion, preeclampsia, intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), preterm birth <34 weeks, birthweight <3rd percentile, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission.Results: Low PlGF was strongly associated with compromised fetal growth (OR 4.6, 95% CI 2.7-7.8;P < 0.0001).Compromised fetal growth was associated with abnormal placental morphology (OR 4.2, 95 % CI 2.5-7.2),maternal/fetal vascular malperfusion on pathology (OR 15.5, 95 % CI 5.2-46.3)and adverse perinatal outcomes, including IUFD, preterm birth <34 weeks, birthweight <3rd percentile, and NICU admission.Differences in gestational age at first visit and delivery were significant across growth categories (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:Low PlGF levels and abnormal placental morphology are strong indicators of placental dysfunction and FGR, even when independent of preeclampsia.Incorporating PlGF testing into high-risk pregnancies' management may enable earlier identification of compromised growth and improve obstetric outcomes, particularly in settings with limited resources. RsumIntroduction : Le retard de croissance intra-utrin (RCIU) s'associe souvent au dysfonctionnement placentaire.Le facteur de croissance placentaire (PlGF) circulant, un biomarqueur, s'avre prometteur dans le recensement des grossesses comportant un risque de dysfonctionnement placentaire et de RCIU.La prsente tude portait sur le rle du taux de PIGF

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Cite This Study

Figueiro-Filho et al. (Wed,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f04e08727298f751e72046 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2026.103371

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