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Kim, Cho, Kim, Park, Ha, and Park: Cord Blood Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 and Placental Growth Factor in Preterm Infants with Maternal Preeclampsia
Original Article

The Ewha Medical Journal 2013; 36(2): 118-125.

Published online: 26 September 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2013.36.2.118

Cord Blood Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1 and Placental Growth Factor in Preterm Infants with Maternal Preeclampsia

Jiyoung Kim, Sujin Cho, Young ju Kim1, Hye Sook Park2, Eun-Hee Ha2, Eun Ae Park

Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Preventive Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Eun Ae Park. Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 158-710, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2650-5574, Fax: 82-2-2653-3718, pea8639@ewha.ac.kr

Received 22 April 2013       Accepted 5 July 2013

Copyright © 2013. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of cord blood levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in preterm infants with maternal preeclampsia.

Methods

Thirty six preterm infants born at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from January 2006 to August 2006 were studied after prior parental consent at mid-pregnancy. sFlt-1, PlGF, and VEGF levels in the cord blood of preterm neonate, with or without maternal preeclampsia, were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

There was no difference in sFlt-1 between infants with and without maternal preeclampsia. Infants with maternal preeclampsia had significantly lower PlGF levels (P=0.035) and higher sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (P=0.080) with borderline significance. Cord blood VEGF levels were not related to maternal preeclampsia. Infants with maternal preeclampsia had lower birth weight (P=0.030), lower neonatal platelet count without statistical significance (P=0.064) and more likely to be small for gestational age (P=0.057). Neonatal platelet count was significantly correlated with cord blood PlGF levels (r=0.674, P=0.032).

Conclusion

Increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and decreased PlGF may not only be related to the pathophysiology of maternal preeclampsia but also affect the neonatal platelet count and birth weight.

Keywords: Placental growth factor, Preeclampsia, Preterm neonates, Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1, Vascular endothelial growth factor

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Flow of participants through the study. GA, gestational age.
emj-36-118-g001
Fig. 2
Comparison of cord blood placental growth factor (PlGF) level in infants with maternal preeclampsia and controls. The thick line denotes median for each group. Analysis by Mann Whitney U test.
emj-36-118-g002
Fig. 3
Linear correlation between cord blood sFlt-1 and PlGF levels in infants with maternal preeclampsia. sFlt-1, soluble fms like tyrosine kinase 1; PlGF, placental growth factor.
emj-36-118-g003
Fig. 4
Linear correlation between cord blood placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and gestational age in infants with maternal preeclampsia.
emj-36-118-g004
Fig. 5
Linear correlation between cord blood placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and birth weight in infants with maternal preeclampsia.
emj-36-118-g005
Fig. 6
Linear correlation between cord blood placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and platelet counts in infants with maternal preeclampsia.
emj-36-118-g006
Table 1
Clinical characteristics in the infants with maternal preeclampsia and controls
emj-36-118-i001

*Values are presented as mean±SD. Values are presented as number (%), analyzed by Mann Whitney U test, chi square test or Fisher's exact test.

Table 2
Cord blood levels of sFlt-1, PlGF, and VEGF in infants with maternal preeclampsia and controls
emj-36-118-i002

Values are presented as mean±SD. Analysis by Mann Whitney U test.

Table 3
Platelet counts in infants and mothers with preeclampsia and controls
emj-36-118-i003

Values are mean±standard deviation. Analysis by Mann Whitney U test.

Table 4
Cord blood levels of sFlt-1, PlGF, VEGF in infants with RDS and without RDS
emj-36-118-i004

Values are presented as mean±SD. Analysis by Mann Whitney U test. RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; sFlt-1, soluble fms like tyrosine kinase 1; PlGF, placental growth factor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Seoul Research & Business Development (2005-1547-1) Republic of Korea.

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