Placental growth factor for prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder of pregnancy. Early detection of this condition can help prevent associated complications. The present study aimed to investigate the association between maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and GDM. This study was a meta-analysis of observational studies. The databases searched from inception up to 18 Aug 2026 included Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Article screening was performed using EndNote software X8, and a meta-analysis was undertaken using Review Manager software (RevMan version 5.3) and STATA software. Quality assessment was appraised using the Downs and Black checklist. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. From an initial search of 2812 records, we included eight studies with 36,003 participants in the final qualitative and quantitative synthesis. A median total score of 19.5 represented an overall good quality rating for the included studies. There was a statistically significant difference in PlGF levels between women with GDM and controls (pooled MD = 0.07 MoM, 95% CI [0.02, 0.11], I² = 0%, N = 4, p = 0.004). The results of this study demonstrate that women with GDM have significantly higher PlGF levels in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, due to the low certainty of the evidence, further research is needed to establish the clinical importance of this finding.