Second-trimester serum levels of placenta growth factor (PLGF) and inhibin A are increased in smokers. Implications for pre-eclampsia risk assessment

Abstract

Biochemical risk assessment in pregnancy based on circulating marker protein levels has been introduced for several present or later occurring gestational or fetal pathologies. For pre-eclampsia (PE), increased concentrations of inhibin and activin with decreased levels of placenta growth factor (PLGF) were found in the second-trimester. While maternal smoking does not influence the serum levels of many markers, its effects on activin A and PLGF, and hence on the risk assessment result, has never been studied. Sera, obtained at 17 pregnancy weeks from 42 smokers and 47 non-smokers, were analyzed for inhibin A, activin A and PLGF, together with eight other markers. PLGF, but not activin A was increased at 17 weeks in the smokers. Previously reported elevations in inhibin A levels were confirmed. These new findings indicate that PLGF and inhibin A, but not activin A, will require the smoking status to be taken into account in screening tests for PE and other gestational pathologies.