Relationships of serum placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 with fetal and uterine artery Doppler indices in pre-eclampsia

Objective To compare serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) concentrations among women with pre-eclampsia and healthy control women and to evaluate the associations of serum PlGF and sFlt-1 with fetal and uterine artery Doppler indices in pre-eclampsia. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study of 33 women with pre-eclampsia and 33 normotensive pregnant women attending a university hospital in China between January and November 2014. Serum PlGF and sFlt-1 were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Doppler indices of the uterine artery, umbilical artery, fetal middle cerebral artery, and ductus venosus were measured. Results The pulsatility index of the uterine artery was negatively correlated with PlGF (r, -0.487; P=0.004) and positively correlated with sFlt-1 (r, 0.420; P=0.015). Gestational age at birth was positively correlated with PlGF (r, 0.601, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with sFlt-1 (r, -0.568; P=0.001). Birth weight was positively correlated with PlGF (r, 0.555; P=0.001) and negatively correlated with sFlt-1 (r, -0.552; P=0.001). Apgar score was negatively correlated with sFlt-1 (r, -0.427; P=0.017). Conclusion Lower PlGF and higher sFlt-1 levels in maternal serum were significantly associated with increased uterine arterial impedance in pre-eclampsia.