Examining the correlation between placental and serum placenta growth factor in preeclampsia

Objective: Decreased levels of serum placenta growth factor (PlGF) are associated with preeclampsia. We sought to determine whether serum and placental levels of PlGF (sPlGF and pPlGF) are associated with preeclampsia and whether there is a correlation between serum and placental PlGF levels. Study Design: These analyses were part of a larger, prospective, case-control study. Cases were women with preeclampsia. Controls were women without preeclampsia who delivered at term. Analyses included nonparametric tests to compare medians, logistic regression to estimate odds, and calculation of correlation coefficients. Results: Twenty-four cases (10 preterm, 14 term) were compared with 14 controls. Median levels of PlGF were significantly lower in cases than controls (pPlGF: 232.6 vs 363.4 pg/mL, P =.02; sPlGF: 85.5 vs 274.4 pg/mL, P <.001). Serum and placental PlGF were correlated (overall: 39%, P =.006; cases with preterm preeclampsia and growth restriction: 87%, P =.02). Conclusion: Serum and placental PlGF are independently associated with preeclampsia and correlated with each other.