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Placental angiogenic growth factors and uterine artery Doppler findings for characterization of different subsets in preeclampsia and in isolated intrauterine growth restriction.

Crispi F, Domínguez C, Llurba E, Martín-Gallán P, Cabero L, Gratacós E

Department of Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain..

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible relationships between placental markers and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted in 76 patients with preeclampsia and 37 patients with intrauterine growth restriction that were classified as early onset (<34 weeks of gestational age) or late onset, and 40 control subjects. Plasma levels of placental growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and uterine artery Doppler indices were measured. RESULTS: In early-onset preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, placental growth factor was lower and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 higher than in control subjects, although all changes were more pronounced in preeclampsia. In late-onset preeclampsia, those patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler indices had higher soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels. CONCLUSION: Biochemical changes in early-onset preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction point to a common placental disorder and a state of endothelial dysfunction, which may require interaction with other factors to explain the maternal disease in preeclampsia. Data in late-onset preeclampsia suggest that a proportion of them may occur with minimal placental involvement.

Published 3 July 2006 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 195(1): 201-7.
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