Altered level of salivary placental growth factor is associated with preeclampsia.

A pilot, case-control study was conducted to compare the concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in saliva of preeclampsia (PE) patients with normotensive controls in the second and third trimesters. Measured by ELISA assays, levels of salivary PlGF were significantly lower in PE patients (n = 13) compared to controls (n = 15) (two-way ANOVA, p = 0.0208) independent of gestational age at time of collection (p = 0.49). Salivary PLAP differences between PE and controls were not statistically significant. Placenta-specific proteins are detectable in maternal saliva and may serve as noninvasive biomarkers to monitor placenta health and disease during pregnancy.