Potential value of placental angiogenic factors as biomarkers in preeclampsia for clinical physicians

The role of angiogenic factors in the onset of clinical manifestations of preeclampsia was demonstrated in 2003 by the implication of sFlt-1, PlGF and VEGF, and in 2006 by the implication of soluble endoglin. Placental ischemia and inflammation observed in preeclampsia alter both the production and progression of angiogenic factors during pregnancy. During the first trimester, the combination of PlGF with clinical, biophysical and biological factors results in a better test than the conventional one. However, the clinical value of this method remains to be confirmed. During the second and third trimesters, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio may be used, with or without pre-existing renal disease, for short-term prediction, diagnosis, and prognosis, and to evaluate the effectiveness of preeclampsia treatment. While a sFlt-1/PlGF ratio < 38 and <= 33, respectively, rules out the short-term onset and diagnosis of preeclampsia, a sFlt-1/PlGF ratio >= 85 between 20 and 34 weeks of pregnancy and >= 110 beyond 34 weeks of pregnancy confirms a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Angiogenic and non-angiogenic preeclampsia are identified by a sFlt-1 PlGF >= 85 and < 85, respectively, with the risk of maternal and fetal complications at two weeks differing between the two. Similarly, a sFlt-1/PlGF ratio > 665 and > 205, respectively, is a good short-term predictor of adverse outcomes of early and late-onset preeclampsia. These values could be incorporated into future guidelines for better clinical management of preeclampsia. (C) 2019 Societe francophone de nephrologie, dialyse et transplantation. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.