Association between the high soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor ratio and adverse outcomes in asymptomatic women with early-onset fetal growth restriction

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess whether the high soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio is associated with adverse outcomes (e.g., HELLP syndrome [hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets], severe hypertension uncontrolled by medication, non-reassuring fetal status, placental abruption, pulmonary edema, growth arrest, maternal death, or fetal death) and a shorter duration to delivery in early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR).Methods: Thirty-four women with FGR diagnosed at <34.0 weeks were recruited. Serum angiogenic marker levels were estimated within 6 hours of a diagnosis of FGR. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the threshold of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio to predict adverse outcomes. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine the association between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and adverse outcomes. Finally, we used Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test to assess the probability of delay in delivery.

Results: Women who developed adverse outcomes within a week had a significantly higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio than did those who did not develop complications. A cutoff value of 86.2 for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio predicted adverse outcomes, with a sensitivity and specificity of 77.8% and 80.0%, respectively. Moreover, 58.4% of women with an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥86.2 versus 9.1% of those with an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio <86.2 delivered within a week of presentation (p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, an sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥86.2 (adjusted odds ratio 9.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–72.8) was associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Conclusion: A high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was associated with adverse outcomes and a shorter duration to delivery in early-onset FGR.

KEYWORDS:

• Angiogenic factors
• birth complications
• early-onset FGR
• placental growth factor (PlGF)
• soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)

Acknowledgments

We thank the study participants for the use of their personal data.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.