Predictive value of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 against placental growth factor for preeclampsia in a Chinese pregnant women population

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to explore the predictive effects of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) for preeclampsia. METHODS: A total of 1580 singleton pregnant women aged 18‐45 years were included in this study. Serum samples were collected and stored frozen during their regular obstetric examinations. A total of 48 women who were eventually diagnosed with preeclampsia among them were defined as the preeclampsia group, other 134 women who were matched with age and sample collecting gestational weeks and finally diagnosed without preeclampsia were selected as control. The concentration of sFlt‐1 and PlGF in prestored serum samples was examined. The optimal cut‐off of sFlt‐1, PlGF, and sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in predicting preeclampsia was determined by establishing the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: Serum PlGF levels in patients with preeclampsia were significantly lower than those in normal pregnancy (P < 0.05), On the contrary, sflt‐1 levels and sflt‐1/PlGF ratios were significantly higher than those in the normal pregnant women (P < 0.05). The ROC curve study showed that using the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio to predict preeclampsia was better than using PlGF alone but no difference with sFlt‐1. When the cut‐off of the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio was 26.6, the area under the ROC curve was 0.918, and high sensitivity (85.42%) and specificity (96.27%) for predicting preeclampsia were obtained. CONCLUSION: The cut‐off of sflt‐1/PlGF ratio determined by ROC curve has a good predictive value for the occurrence of preeclampsia.