CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2020; 42(11): 697-704
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713916
Original Article
Obstetrics/High Risk Prenancy

Evaluation of Angiogenic Factors (PlGF and sFlt-1) in Pre-eclampsia Diagnosis

Avaliação dos fatores angiogênicos (PlGF e sFlt-1) no diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
3   Obstetrics Service, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
3   Obstetrics Service, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
3   Obstetrics Service, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
1   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2   Obstetrics Service, Santa Casa de Misericórdia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective Recent observations support the hypothesis that an imbalance between angiogenic factors has a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and is responsible for the clinical manifestations of the disease. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and the best accuracy level of Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in maternal serum and protein/creatinine ratio in urine sample to define the best cutoff point of these tests to discriminate between the patients with gestational hypertension and the patients with pre-eclampsia, to evaluate the possibility of using them as diagnostic methods.

Methods A prospective longitudinal study was performed, and blood samples were collected from 95 pregnant patients with hypertension to measure serum concentrations of biomarkers sFlt-1 and PlGF. Urine samples were collected for protein screening. Significance was set as p < 0.05.

Results The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio demonstrated a sensitivity of 57.5% and a specificity of 60% using 50.4 as a cutoff point. The test that showed the best accuracy in the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia was protein/creatinine ratio, with a sensitivity of 78.9% and a specificity of 70% using 0.4 as a cutoff point and showing an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.80 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion No studied laboratory test proved to be fairly accurate for the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, except for the protein/creatinine ratio. The evidence is insufficient to recommend biomarkers sFlt-1 and PlGF to be used for the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.

Resumo

Objetivo Pesquisas recentes sustentam a hipótese de que um desequilíbrio entre fatores angiogênicos desempenhe um papel fundamental na patogênese da pré-eclâmpsia e seja responsável pelas manifestações clínicas da doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a sensibilidade, a especificidade e o nível de melhor acurácia do Fator semelhante a tirosina quinase 1 (sFlt-1), Fator de crescimento placentário (PlGF), e relação sFlt-1/PlGF no soro materno e relação proteína/creatinina em amostra de urina e definir o melhor ponto de corte desses testes para distinguir pacientes com hipertensão gestacional daquelas com pré-eclâmpsia, a fim de avaliar a possibilidade de utilizá-los como métodos diagnósticos.

Métodos Foi realizado um estudo prospectivo longitudinal e foram coletadas amostras de sangue de 95 gestantes com hipertensão arterial para dosar as concentrações séricas dos biomarcadores sFlt-1 e PlGF. Amostras de urina foram coletadas para pesquisa de proteinúria. Foram consideradas significativas as diferenças com p < 0,05.

Resultados A relação sFlt-1/PlGF demonstrou sensibilidade de 57,5% e especificidade de 60% utilizando 50,4 como ponto de corte. O teste que apresentou a melhor acurácia no diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia foi a relação proteína/creatinina, com sensibilidade de 78,9% e especificidade de 70%, utilizando 0,4 como ponto de corte e demostrando uma área sob a curva receiver operating characteristic (ROC, na sigla em inglês) de 0,80 (p < 0,001).

Conclusão Nenhum método de rastreamento isolado se mostrou com boa acurácia para o diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia, exceto a relação proteína/creatinina. As evidências são insuficientes para recomendar os biomarcadores sFlt-1 e PlGF como diagnóstico de pré-eclâmpsia.

Contributors

All authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 10 December 2019

Accepted: 28 May 2020

Article published online:
30 November 2020

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