Preeclampsia's marker of risk: sFlt-1, PlGF ratio

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening condition for both mother and fetus and is an inducer of premature birth. It can be the cause of stillbirth, intrauterine development delay, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and in many cases it causes massive bleeding and purulent-septic complications. With the delayed diagnosis of atypically occurring preeclampsia, a critical condition develops HELLP syndrome (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets - hemolysis, increased enzyme levels, low platelet levels), intravascular coagulation syndrome, stroke, and multiple organ failure.

The incidence of preeclampsia among pregnant women is 10%.

The aim of the analysis: the determination of concentrations of PIGF and sFlt-1 ratio in maternal blood using an immunoassay expands diagnostic possibilities at the risk of developing preeclampsia even before the appearance of its clinical symptoms.

Clinical manifestations of preeclampsia are expressed:

In the central nervous system: headache, photopsia, paresthesia, fibrillation, and convulsions.
From the cardiovascular system: hypertension, heart failure, hypovolemia.
From the urinary system: oliguria, anuria.
From the gastrointestinal tract: pain in the epigastric region, heartburn, nausea, vomiting.
From the blood system: thrombocytopenia, hemostasis disorders, hemolytic anemia.
Fetal side: fetal developmental delay, fetal intrauterine hypoxia, antenatal fetal death.

Features of the analytes included in the profile Preeclampsia Risk Markers: sFlt-1/PIGF Ratio. In normal pregnancy, PIGF levels increase during the first two trimesters and decrease as labor approaches. The level of sFlt‑1, on the contrary, remains stable in the early stages and in the middle of pregnancy and gradually increases closer to childbirth. Unlike normal pregnancy, women with developing preeclampsia have higher sFlt‑1 levels and lower PIGF levels. These changes are noted even before the development of preeclampsia, which allows the use of these markers for prognostic purposes. Calculating the sFlt‑1/PIGF ratio is a better predictor than each of the indicators individually. Early diagnosis and identification of the risk of developing preeclampsia are important for making decisions about pregnancy management and the expediency of hospitalization of a pregnant woman at risk of preeclampsia: With proper control, adverse outcomes can be prevented for the most part.