Open AccessEndoglin, PlGF and sFlt‐1 as markers for predicting pre‐eclampsia
Author(s) -
DE VIVO ANTONIO,
BAVIERA GIOVANNI,
GIORDANO DOMENICO,
TODARELLO GIOVANNA,
CORRADO FRANCESCO,
D'ANNA ROSARIO
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340802253759
Subject(s) - medicine , eclampsia , preeclampsia , placental growth factor , endoglin , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , stem cell , cd34 , vascular endothelial growth factor , vegf receptors , biology
Abstract Objective. To evaluate the ability of endoglin, placental growth factor (PlGF) and the soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (sFlt‐1) measurements in gestational weeks 24–28 were used to predict pre‐eclampsia. Design. Observational, prospective study. Setting. Department of Gynecological, Obstetrical Sciences and Reproductive Medicine, University of Messina. Sample. Fifty‐two pre‐eclamptic and 52 healthy pregnant women. Methods. A maternal serum sample was frozen and stored at 1‐h 50‐g glucose challenge test between 24 and 28 weeks’ gestation. A second maternal serum sample was collected at admission for the onset of the disease in the pre‐eclamptic group and at admission for delivery in the control group. Levels of endoglin, sFlt‐1 and the PlGF were measured in the stored serum. Pre‐eclamptic subjects were also divided into women with early‐onset (<37 weeks) and women with late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (≥37 weeks). Results. Levels of endoglin, sFlt‐1, and sFlt‐1: PlGF ratio were found to be higher in the pre‐eclamptic group in both trimesters. No differences were found between early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclamptic. The Receiver Operating Characteristics curve, applied to the second trimester marker values, showed the best diagnostic profile for sFlt‐1: PlGF (area under the curve, AUC =0.92) followed by endoglin (AUC =0.88), sFlt‐1 (AUC =0.87) and PlGF (AUC = 0.83). This finding was confirmed by Bayesian analysis which highlighted a specificity, a sensitivity, a diagnostic accuracy, a positive predictive value and a negative predictive value of 88.5% for sFlt‐1: PlGF using a cut‐off of 38.47. Conclusions. Endoglin, PlGF and sFlt‐1 might be used as markers for predicting pre‐eclampsia, but sFlt‐1: PlGF seems to be more accurate.