First trimester prediction for preeclampsia using maternal characteristics, placental growth factor and estimated placental volume

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is a frequent obstetric complication that results in mortality and morbidity in both the mother and the foetus. This study aims to evaluate the placental volume's sensitivity measured by 3D Ultrasonography, placental growth factor (PIGF) & maternal characteristics for predicting preeclampsia in the first trimester. Methods: 85 pregnant women participated in this prospective research with clinical criteria of singleton pregnancy and the gestational age of 11-13 weeks at study enrolment. All patients were subjected to 3D placental ultrasound and specific investigation (PlGF). Human PLGF ELISA kits were used to determine the serum level in duplicate. Results: Among our included females 27.1% were PG while 72.9% were multipara, 14.1% have past history of hypertension and 5.9% have past history of preeclampsia and 10.6% develop preeclampsia; 3 were early in pregnancy and 6 were late in pregnancy. Females with preeclampsia have statistically significant higher past history of hypertension and preeclampsia and have higher preterm labor than females without preeclampsia while them have lower PlGF and estimated placental volume than females without preeclampsia. At cut off level of < 108, estimated placental volume and PlGF have sensitivity of 96.1% and specificity of 88.9% for predicting preeclampsia. Conclusion: Screening for pre-eclampsia at 11-13 weeks' gestation using placental volume and PIGF is associated with a high prediction rate with low false positive rate.