Placental growth factor in the cerebrospinal fluid of women with preeclampsia

Objective: Recent data suggest that excess circulating soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) may causally relate to preeclampsia. This study investigates the levels of sFlt-1, VEGF, and PlGF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with preeclampsia and normotensive controls. Methods: CSF was collected from preeclamptic patients (n = 15) and controls (n = 7) at the time of spinal anesthesia and assayed for PlGF, sFlt-1, and VEGF (total and free) by specific immunoassays. Results: All sought angiogenic factors were measurable. Levels of free PlGF but not sFlt-1 or VEGF (total or free) were increased in CSF of preeclamptic women. There was no significant difference in the ratios of angiogenic factors in the CSF of women with preeclampsia. There was no correlation between levels of angiogenic factors and CSF cell counts or severity of symptoms. Conclusion: Elevated levels of PlGF in CSF preeclamptic women may promote vascular permeability and contribute to the hypertensive encephalopathy seen in such patients.