Objective To compare serum levels of angiogenic growth factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF) and angiogenin in pre-eclamptic women and matched controls.Design Retrospective analysis of -70°C stored serum of women who developed pre-eclampsia and matched controls. Conclusions Decreased serum levels of VEGF and PlGF characterise, and therefore seem to be of importance during (the development of), pre-eclampsia. This selective deficit of angiogenic growth factors might in part explain the shallow placentation found in this pregnancy complication.

No abstract