Preeclampsia is associated with reduced serum levels of placenta growth factor

OBJECTIVES: Adequate vascular development of the placental bed is essential for normal pregnancy. We assessed serum levels of placenta growth factor, an angiogenic factor, throughout normal pregnancy and determined its association with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Serum samples were collected from (1) 308 healthy pregnant women throughout normal gestation, (2) at delivery from 30 each gestational age-matched patients with normal pregnancy and preeclampsia, and (3) maternal and cord blood samples from normal deliveries with and without labor (n = 37 each). Placenta growth factor levels were determined with an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Maternal placenta growth factor levels during normal pregnancy increased from the first trimester to the late second trimester; they subsequently declined from 30 weeks' gestation to delivery. Significantly less maternal placenta growth factor (P<.0001) was found in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, and labor significantly lowered placenta growth factor levels in both maternal (P =.0189) and cord serum samples (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Decreased levels of placenta growth factor during preeclampsia could influence endothelial cell and trophoblast function, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of the disease.