Use of first-trimester placenta growth factor concentration to predict hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a...

To determine the value of placenta growth factor (PlGF) for predicting hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in a low-risk population when used either alone or in combination with other markers.

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted among women with singleton pregnancy in the first trimester in New Delhi, India, between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2016. First-trimester measures included maternal history, body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), Doppler uterine artery pulsatility index, and serum levels of biomarkers (including PlGF).

Among 1725 women, 208 (12.1%) developed HDP; 74 (35.6%) of these cases were early onset. Mean PlGF levels were significantly lower among cases than among controls (30.42 ± 10.22 vs 37.31 ± 13.28 pg/mL; P<0.001). As a biomarker for prediction of HDP, PlGF fared better than pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A): area under the curve 0.685 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.620-0.750; P<0.001) versus 0.659 (95% CI 0.593-0.726; P<0.001). The highest odds ratio was found for MAP (8.369, 95% CI 5.752-12.215). The combination of PlGF, PAPP-A, BMI, MAP, and Doppler uterine artery pulsatility index provided an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.876 (95% CI 0.833-0.919; P<0.001).

Combining PlGF concentration with biochemical and biophysical markers provided a good screening test for HDP during the first trimester.