Evaluation of the utility of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia - single-center study. Preliminary analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate relationship between sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, clinical characteristics and outcomes of pre-eclampsia.

Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of 29 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia who had measured sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was conducted using electronic medical records from Obstetrics and Perinatology ward of University Hospital in Cracow.

Results: Women median age: 33.5 years, number of pregnancies: one 52%, two 15%, three 18%,more than three 15%, number of deliveries: one 59.3%, two 37%, three 3.7%, median body mass index during hospitalization: 29.4 kg/m². Chronic diseases apart from hypertension: 67% of women (diabetes 37%, hypothyroidism 26%, obesity 11%). Median newborns birth weight: 1640 g, median Apgar score at 5 minutes: 8, median umbilical cord blood pH: 7.32. Fetal growth restriction: 28.6% of cases. All deliveries were by c-section. Median gestational age at delivery: 32 weeks. sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was inversely correlated with gestational age at delivery (r = -0.42, p = 0.02). The median sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was higher in women with severe pre-eclampsia (n = 15) than in those with mild pre-eclampsia (n = 14) (211 vs. 57, p < 0.001). sFlt-1/PlGF ratio of > 85 had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 71% for predicting severe pre-eclampsia.

Conclusions: sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is useful in assessing the severity and prognosis of pre-eclampsia. sFlt-1/PlGF ratio should not be used as a sole criterion for making clinical decisions, but as an adjunct to other clinical and laboratory parameters.