Evaluation of placenta growth factor and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 receptor levels in mild and severe preeclampsia

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine if maternal serum concentrations of placenta growth factor (PlGF) and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 receptor (s-Flt1) are more abnormal in patients with severe preeclampsia compared with mild preeclampsia.Study designSerum samples were collected from 32 control patients and 80 patients with mild or severe preeclampsia. PlGF and s-Flt1 concentrations were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results are expressed as median (Q1-Q3) unless stated otherwise. After normalization, serum markers were compared using one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).ResultsPatients with preeclampsia had decreased levels of PlGF (75.1 ± 14 vs 391 ± 54 pg/mL, P < .0001) and elevated s-Flt1 concentration (1081 ± 108 vs 100.1 ± 26.9 pg/mL, P < .0001) compared with the respective controls (mean ± SEM). PlGF concentration was lower in patients with mild preeclampsia compared with severe, respectively (67 pg/mL [39-158] vs 24 pg/mL [4-57], P < .02). s-Flt1 was not different between mild and severe preeclampsia (674 pg/mL [211-1297] vs 1015 pg/mL [731-1948], P = .08).ConclusionPlGF and s-Flt1 serum levels are abnormal in patients with preeclampsia compared with controls, but only PlGF is more abnormal in severe preeclampsia compared with mild preeclampsia.