RESUMO
Despite many available treatments, infants born to preeclamptic mothers continue to pose a serious clinical problem. The present study focuses on the evaluation of infants born to preeclamptic mothers for the occurrence of early-onset complications and attempts to link the clinical status of such infants to the angiogenesis markers in maternal blood (sFlt-1, PlGF). The study included 77 newborns and their mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia. The infants were assessed for their perinatal outcomes, with an emphasis on adverse neonatal outcomes such us infections, RDS, PDA, NEC, IVH, ROP, or BPD during the hospitalization period. The cutoff point was established using the ROC curve for the occurrence of any adverse neonatal outcome and it was 204 for the sFlt-1/PlGF and 32 birth week with AOC 0.644 and 0.91, respectively. The newborns born to mothers with high ratios had longer hospitalization times and, generally, were more frequently diagnosed with any of the aforementioned adverse neonatal outcomes. Also, the neonates born prior to or at 32 wkGA with higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were statistically significantly more common to be diagnosed with any of the adverse neonatal outcomes compared to those with lower ratio born prior to or at 32 wkGA. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio can be a useful tool in predicting short-term adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants born after a full 33 weeks gestation developed almost no severe neonatal complications. Appropriate screening and preventive healthcare for preeclampsia can contribute significantly to reducing the incidence of neonatal complications.
RESUMO
Background Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are used as markers of preeclampsia. The aim of this paper was to assess the correlations between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio values within the <38, 38-85 and >85 brackets and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies that require determination of these markers. Methods A total of 927 pregnant patients between 18 and 41 weeks' gestation suspected of or confirmed with any form of placental insufficiency (preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction [IUGR], gestational hypertension, HELLP syndrome, placental abruption) were included in the study. In each of the patients, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was calculated. Patients were divided into three groups according to the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio brackets of <38, 38-85 and >85. Results Significantly worse perinatal outcomes were found in the sFlt-1/PlGF >85 group, primarily with lower cord blood pH, neonatal birth weight and shorter duration of gestation. Statistically significant correlations between the values of these markers and the abovementioned perinatal effects were found. Conclusion An sFlt-1/PlGF ratio value of >85 suggests that either preeclampsia or one of the other placental insufficiency forms may occur, which is associated with lower cord blood pH, newborn weight and earlier delivery. Determining the disordered angiogenesis markers and calculating the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in pregnancies complicated by placental insufficiency may lead to better diagnosis, therapeutic decisions and better perinatal outcomes.
