ABSTRACT
This study was designed to assess serum levels of placenta growth factor [PGF] throughout normal pregnancy and in cases of preeclampsia admitted to department of Gynecology and Obstetric, Zagazig University Hospital, and Zagazig General Hospital. Serum samples were collected from: 1] Thirty healthy pregnant women throughout normal gestation i.e 10[th] week [1[st] trimester], 20[th] week [2[nd] trimester], 30[th] week [3[rd] trimester] and at term]. 2] Thirty preeclamptic patients divided into 8 mild to moderate and 22 severe preeclampsia according to the level of the arterial blood pressure, the magnitude of proteinuria /24h and the presence of generalized edema in addition to serum uric acid level. Moreover, in order to evaluate the effect of the mode of delivery on serum levels of PGF,maternal and cord blood samples were taken from cases of normal pregnancy delivered either by uncomplicated vaginal delivery [n = 30] or by cesarean section [n = 30]. PGF levels were determined with an antigen - capture enzyme - linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. It was found that maternal PGF levels during normal pregnancy increased significantly from the 10[th] week to the 20[th] week, to reach a very highly statistically significant level at the 30[th] week, then significantly declined from 30 weeks gestation to delivery. However, at term PGF levels remained significantly higher than that in the 1[st] trimester [10[th] week]. Significantly less maternal PGF levels [P < 0.001] were found in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia despite insignificant change in placental mass. However, a significant difference in PGF levels - between severe and mild to moderate cases of preeclampsia was detected. On the other hand, it was found that