First trimester serum angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in women with chronic hypertension for the prediction of preeclampsia

An imbalance between angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors is thought to be a central pathogenetic mechanism in preeclampsia. In pregnancies that subsequently develop preeclampsia the maternal serum concentration of the angiogenic placental growth factor (PLGF) is decreased from as early as the first trimester of pregnancy and the concentration of the antiangiogenic soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) is increased in the last few weeks before the clinical presentation of the disease. Chronic hypertension, which complicates 1-2% of pregnancies, is the highest risk factor for development of preeclampsia among all other factors in maternal demographic characteristics and medical history.
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Original Research: Obstetrics Source Type: research