Associations of sFlt-1 and PlGF levels with hematologic and biochemical parameters in normotensive pregnant women

OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia (PE) is characterized by hypertension accompanied by hematologic and biochemical changes. In PE, these changes are linked to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), but their relationships during normotensive pregnancy remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of sFlt-1 and PlGF with routine hematologic and biochemical parameters in normotensive pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 780 pregnant women who did not develop PE or superimposed PE by measuring sFlt-1 and PlGF at 18 + 0-21 + 6 weeks of gestation with same-day routine hematology/biochemistry results. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlations showed weak but statistically significant associations between sFlt-1 and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; ρ = 0.19), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; ρ = 0.16), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; ρ = 0.15). In multivariable analyses, these associations remained independent of maternal characteristics. CONCLUSION: Even within physiologic ranges, sFlt-1 may reflect subclinical hepatic or hemolysis-related responses, consistent with its pathogenic role in PE.