Determination of placental growth factor (PlGF) levels in healthy pregnant women without signs or symptoms of preeclampsia

Craig Saffer, Gayle Olson, Kim A. Boggess, Richard Beyerlein, Charles Eubank, Baha M. Sibai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To identify a reference range for placental growth factor (PlGF) in normotensive women without symptoms or signs of preeclampsia. Study design: Comprising the study cohort were 247 term pregnancies without preeclampsia or adverse neonatal outcomes from 16 sites in the US and Canada. Serial plasma samples were collected in 6 gestational age (GA) intervals between 20 + 0 and 40 + 0 weeks. Non-parametric percentiles of the distribution of PlGF were estimated in each GA interval and a parametric model was developed to describe the distribution of PlGF as a continuous smooth function of GA (from 20 to 40 weeks) in normal healthy pregnancy. Demographic and clinical factors influencing PlGF levels were also examined. Results: There were 1366 evaluable samples collected from 247 subjects (242, 238, 226, 223, 222, and 215 samples in each GA interval, 20-24, 24-29, 29-32, 32-35, 35-37, and 37-40 weeks, respectively). The 5th percentile of PlGF was 76.4, 141.1, 139.3, 65.5, 31.7, and 23.4 pg/mL in each respective GA interval. The distribution of PlGF is approximately log normal with parameters that vary continuously as a function of GA. PlGF distribution is weakly dependent on maternal age, race/ethnicity, parity, and maximum systolic blood pressure (taken between weeks 20 and 24). Although statistically significant, these factors did not modify PlGF levels by more than ±15%. Conclusion: These data provide a valid reference range for PlGF in normal pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)124-132
Number of pages9
JournalPregnancy hypertension
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2013

Keywords

  • Angiogenesis
  • Biomarker
  • Placental growth factor (PlGF)
  • Preeclampsia
  • Triage PlGF test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Determination of placental growth factor (PlGF) levels in healthy pregnant women without signs or symptoms of preeclampsia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this