Placenta Growth Factor and Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 in Preeclampsia and Normotensive Pregnant Nigerian Women

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is still one of the leading causes of maternal/perinatal morbidity/mortality in Nigeria. Imbalance between placenta growth factor (PLGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1) has been reportedly present both before and after the manifestation of PE;however, Nigerian data regarding these angiogenesis-related substances are lacking. We here attempted to determine the maternal serum level of PLGF and sFlt1 and sFlt1/PLGF ratio in PE vs. non-PE women in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was made on 75 women with PE and 75 age-gestational-age matched women without PE, as case and control, respectively. Levels of sFlt-1, PIGF and the sFlt-1: PIGF ratio was compared between the two. Results: Serum levels of Flt-1 and sFlt1/PIGF ratio were significantly higher in PE patients (6581.86 ± 865.75, and 146.42 ± 92.43) than in the normotensive control (4584.52 ± 1479.6 and 11.60 ± 6.42). PIGF was significantly lower in PE patients (70.14 ± 51.03) than the normotensives (494.06 ± 475.8). There were positive and negative correlations between the sFlt-1 and PLGF respectively and mean arterial blood pressure. Conclusion: Serum sFlt-1, sFlt1/PIGF ratio was significantly higher and PIGF levels were significantly lower in PE than normotensive control in Nigerian population.

Maternal Vascular Dysfunction in Congenital Heart Defects

Background:Research on fetal congenital heart defect(CHD)mostly focuses on etiology and mechanisms.However,studies on maternal complications or pathophysiology are limited.Our objective was to determine whether vascular dysfunction exists in pregnant women carrying a fetus with congenital heart defects.Methods:We conducted a case-control study.27 cases of pregnant women carrying a fetus with major CHD admitted to our hospital for delivery between April 2021 and August 2022 were selected.Every case was matched with about 2 pregnant complication-free controls without fetal abnormalities.The proangiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors and pregnancy outcomes were compared.Results:The proangiogenic factors include vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and placental growth factor(PlGF).The anti-angiogenic factors involve soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1(sFlt-1)and soluble endoglin(sEng).No differences were found in maternal plasma concentrations of PlGF,VEGF,and sFlt-1 between case-control groups when analyzed at 36 weeks≤gestational age(GA)<39 weeks and 39 weeks≤GA≤41 weeks.The concentrations of sEng in maternal plasma in the fetal CHD group were significantly higher than those in the control group:0.60(0.77)vs.0.32(0.26)ng/ml at 36 weeks≤GA<39 weeks,p=0.001 and 0.75(0.55)vs.0.28(0.27)ng/ml at 39 weeks≤GA≤41 weeks,p<0.001.Conclusion:Vascular dysfunction exists in pregnant women with fetal congenital heart defects,manifesting significantly elevated sEng concentration at delivery.