Angiogenesis Factors and Uterine Artery Doppler Ultrasound Resistance Index and Pulsatility Index in Pregnancies with High-Risk of Preeclampsia

Abstract

Background: Endothelial dysfunction in the maternal circulation is an early finding during preeclampsia. Early diagnosis is very important to protect from maternal and neonatal morbidity we aimed to investigate the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), anti-angiogenic VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) or soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), and angiogenic PlGF using uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography and to evaluate placental vascular and fetomaternal blood flow changes.Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 64 pregnant women aged between 15 and 40 years who were in their 20 to 24 weeks of gestation and who were at a risk of developing preeclampsia. The patients were reexamined after delivery and divided into two groups according to those who developed preeclampsia/IUGR (n=9/7) and those who did not (n=48). We compared the VEGF, sFlt1 and PlGF using uterine artery Doppler ultrasonography changes.Results: Univariate analysis results of potential factors for preeclampsia were insignificant except age (p=0.047) and body mass index (0.004). In our ROC curve, the pvalue was found to be significant.Conclusion: Our study results demonstrated that biochemical and radiologic markers did not give any clues for early diagnosis at the 20 to 24 weeks of gestation.