From first-trimester screening to risk stratification of evolving pre-eclampsia in second and third trimesters of pregnancy: comprehensive approach

sFlt-1/PIGF ratio positive associated with non-dipper type change in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM) for preeclampsia development

In order to explore relationship of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1/placental growth factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) in suspected preeclampsia(PE), suspected PE participants in 28 + 0 to 33 + 6 weeks underwent ABPM and sFlt-1/PlGF from July 2020 to July 2022 were included(N = 476) in study. ABPM parameters were compared between sFlt-1/PlGF ≥38 and <38 groups. Correlation analysis was performed between ABPM and sFlt-1/PlGF, and logistic regression was used to explore prediction value for PE in 2 weeks. One hundred eighteen cases developed PE in 2 weeks with 114 from sFlt-1/PlGF ≥38 group. Daytime and nighttime BP were all increased,with increased non-dipper (58.4% vs. 30.3%), riser (22.1% vs. 13.1%) and and decreased Dipper (15.4% vs. 45.9%) type of ABPM in sFlt-1/PlGF ≥38 groups (P < 0.05).The riser group had the highest sFlt-1 and lowest PlGF. sFlt-1/PlGF and sFlt-1 were all positively correlated with systolic (SBP) & diastolic blood pressure(DBP)(P < 0.01), in which correlation coefficients of daytime and nighttime BP with sFlt-1 were β = 150.05 & 157.67 for SBP, β = 234 and 199.01 for DBP, respectively. However, PlGF was only negatively associated with nighttime SBP and DBP(P < 0.05), with no correlation with daytime BP (P > 0.05).Combining sFlt-1/PlGF and ABPM model, showed sFlt-1/PlGF (aOR = 2.01 (1.69-2.36)), Nighttime DBP (aOR = 1.14 (1.02-1.28)) contributed to preeclampsia prediction, and had improved predictive value compared to ABPM or sFlt-1/PlGF models alone(P < 0.05). sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was positively correlated with BP parameters, whereas PIGF was only negatively correlated with nocturnal BP and increased non-dipper type change in ABPM, which had a synergistic effect with sFlt-1/PlGF on PE prediction.

Reducing the Risk of Pre-Eclampsia in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Using a Combination of Pregnancy Screening, Lifestyle, and Medical Management Strategies

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multisystem disorder that presents with a variety of phenotypes involving metabolic, endocrine, reproductive, and psychological symptoms and signs. Women with PCOS are at increased risk of pregnancy complications including implantation failure, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, preterm labor, and pre-eclampsia (PE). This may be attributed to the presence of specific susceptibility features associated with PCOS before and during pregnancy, such as chronic systemic inflammation, insulin resistance (IR), and hyperandrogenism, all of which have been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications. Many of the features of PCOS are reversible following lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise, and pregnant women following a healthy lifestyle have been found to have a lower risk of complications, including PE. This narrative synthesis summarizes the evidence investigating the risk of PE and the role of nutritional factors in women with PCOS. The findings suggest that the beneficial aspects of lifestyle management of PCOS, as recommended in the evidence-based international guidelines, extend to improved pregnancy outcomes. Identifying high-risk women with PCOS will allow targeted interventions, early-pregnancy screening, and increased surveillance for PE. Women with PCOS should be included in risk assessment algorithms for PE.

Prediction of preeclampsia in asymptomatic women

Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. It is important to identify women who are at high risk of developing this disorder in their first trimester of pregnancy to allow timely therapeutic intervention. The use of low-dose aspirin initiated before 16 weeks of gestation can significantly reduce the rate of preterm preeclampsia by 62 %. Effective screening recommended by the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) consists of a combination of maternal risk factors, mean arterial pressure, uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and placental growth factor (PLGF). The current model has detection rates of 90 %, 75 %, and 41 % for early, preterm, and term preeclampsia, respectively at 10 % false-positive rate. Similar risk assessment can be performed during the second trimester in all pregnant women irrespective of first trimester screening results. The use of PLGF, UtA-PI, sFlt-1 combined with other investigative tools are part of risk assessment.

Angiogenic biomarkers for the follow-up of singleton pregnancies with suspected preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. While the underlying cause of remains unknown, abnormal placentation in early stages of pregnancy is thought to be a main triggering event for the more severe and early-onset forms. A consequence of placental insufficiency is an imbalance of angiogenic factors in the maternal circulation. The objective was to assess the utility of the angiogenic biomarker sFlt-1/PlGF for the diagnosis, follow-up and prognosis of preeclampsia.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study based including 65 consecutive singleton pregnancies with suspected preeclampsia referred to our hospital between January 2018 and February 2019. PE was defined as early-onset (20-33+6 weeks) and late-onset (≥34 weeks). The main independent variable was sFlt-1/PlGF classified in women with early or late onset PE, respectively, as low when <38 or <38, intermediate when 38-84 or 38-109, and high when ≥85 or ≥110.

RESULTS

PE was confirmed in 14 (4 early-onset, 10 late-onset) of the participants. 122 sFlt-1/PIGF ratio determinations were requested. The optimal sFlt-1/PlGF to predict PE was ≥86 with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 96% (AUC 0.95; CI 95% 0.90-1.0; P<0.001). A multilevel logistic model for the diagnosis of PE was adjusted for age, Body Mass Index, diabetes, proteinuria and mean arterial pressure. Women were 16.5 times (P=0.013) more likely to develop PE if they had intermediate sFlt-1/PlGF levels and 451 times (P<0.001) more likely if they had high biomarker levels compared to those with levels below 38. The probability of PE was 3.73 times (P=0.046) greater in those with maternal and/or fetal complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The biomarker proved useful to diagnose PE and assess its prognosis. Patients diagnosed with PE had a higher frequency of complications and their newborns were of lower birth weight.

Accuracy of placental growth factor alone or in combination with soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 or maternal factors in detecting preeclampsia in asymptomatic women in the second and third trimesters: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to: (1) identify all relevant studies reporting on the diagnostic accuracy of maternal circulating placental growth factor) alone or as a ratio with soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1), and of placental growth factor-based models (placental growth factor combined with maternal factors±other biomarkers) in the second or third trimester to predict subsequent development of preeclampsia in asymptomatic women; (2) estimate a hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic curve for studies reporting on the same test but different thresholds, gestational ages, and populations; and (3) select the best method to screen for preeclampsia in asymptomatic women during the second and third trimester of pregnancy by comparing the diagnostic accuracy of each method.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was performed through MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases from January 1, 1985 to April 15, 2021.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies including asymptomatic singleton pregnant women at >18 weeks' gestation with risk of developing preeclampsia were evaluated. We included only cohort or cross-sectional test accuracy studies reporting on preeclampsia outcome, allowing tabulation of 2×2 tables, with follow-up available for >85%, and evaluating performance of placental growth factor alone, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1- placental growth factor ratio, or placental growth factor-based models. The study protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register Of Systematic Reviews (CRD 42020162460).

METHODS

Because of considerable intra- and interstudy heterogeneity, we computed the hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic plots and derived diagnostic odds ratios, β, θi, and Λ for each method to compare performances. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by the QUADAS-2 tool.

RESULTS

The search identified 2028 citations, from which we selected 474 studies for detailed assessment of the full texts. Finally, 100 published studies met the eligibility criteria for qualitative and 32 for quantitative syntheses. Twenty-three studies reported on performance of placental growth factor testing for the prediction of preeclampsia in the second trimester, including 16 (with 27 entries) that reported on placental growth factor test alone, 9 (with 19 entries) that reported on the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio, and 6 (16 entries) that reported on placental growth factor-based models. Fourteen studies reported on performance of placental growth factor testing for the prediction of preeclampsia in the third trimester, including 10 (with 18 entries) that reported on placental growth factor test alone, 8 (with 12 entries) that reported on soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio, and 7 (with 12 entries) that reported on placental growth factor-based models. For the second trimester, Placental growth factor-based models achieved the highest diagnostic odds ratio for the prediction of early preeclampsia in the total population compared with placental growth factor alone and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio (placental growth factor-based models, 63.20; 95% confidence interval, 37.62-106.16 vs soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio, 6.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.76-27.61 vs placental growth factor alone, 5.62; 95% confidence interval, 3.04-10.38); placental growth factor-based models had higher diagnostic odds ratio than placental growth factor alone for the identification of any-onset preeclampsia in the unselected population (28.45; 95% confidence interval, 13.52-59.85 vs 7.09; 95% confidence interval, 3.74-13.41). For the third trimester, Placental growth factor-based models achieved prediction for any-onset preeclampsia that was significantly better than that of placental growth factor alone but similar to that of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio (placental growth factor-based models, 27.12; 95% confidence interval, 21.67-33.94 vs placental growth factor alone, 10.31; 95% confidence interval, 7.41-14.35 vs soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio, 14.94; 95% confidence interval, 9.42-23.70).

CONCLUSION

Placental growth factor with maternal factors ± other biomarkers determined in the second trimester achieved the best predictive performance for early preeclampsia in the total population. However, in the third trimester, placental growth factor-based models had predictive performance for any-onset preeclampsia that was better than that of placental growth factor alone but similar to that of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-placental growth factor ratio. Through this meta-analysis, we have identified a large number of very heterogeneous studies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop standardized research using the same models that combine serum placental growth factor with maternal factors ± other biomarkers to accurately predict preeclampsia. Identification of patients at risk might be beneficial for intensive monitoring and timing delivery.

Use of cell-free signals as biomarkers for early and easy prediction of preeclampsia

Introduction

Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity worldwide. However, current methods of screening are complicated and require special skill sets. In this observational study of prospectively collected samples, we wanted to evaluate if cell-free (cf) DNA could be an efficient biomarker for identification of at-risk patients.

Methods

One hundred patients attending a private prenatal clinic in Canada were enrolled in their first trimester of pregnancy and a blood draw was carried out at 11 + 0 to 14 + 2 weeks' (timepoint A) and 17 + 6 to 25 + 5 weeks of gestation (timepoint B). CfDNA signals, namely concentration, fetal fraction, and fragment size distribution, were correlated with clinical outcomes in the test population to develop the logistic regression model.

Results

Twelve patients developed PE-four early-stage and eight late-stage PE. Significant differences were observed between PE patients and control cases for all three cfDNA signals at timepoint A, while both fetal fraction and concentration were significantly different between PE patients and control cases at timepoint B. Overall, the model had a sensitivity of up to 100% and specificity of up to 87.5% at Timepoint A.

Conclusion

This proof-of-principle study showed that use of this logistic regression model could identify patients at risk of preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Assessment of CA-125 First-Trimester Values as a Potential Screening Marker for Pre-Eclampsia

Background: Pre-eclampsia is a major public health issue. Current screening methods are based on maternal characteristics and medical history, but complex predictive models combining different clinical and biochemical markers have been proposed. However, although their accuracy is high, the implementation of these models in clinical practice is not always feasible, especially in low- and middle-resource settings. CA-125 is a tumoral marker, accessible and cheap, with proven potential as a severity marker in the third trimester of pregnancy in pre-eclamptic women. Assessment of its use as a first-trimester marker is necessary. Methods: This observational study involved fifty pregnant women between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Clinical and biochemical markers (PAPP-A), known for their value in pre-eclampsia screening, were recorded for every patient as well as first-trimester value of CA-125 and third-trimester data regarding blood pressure and pregnancy outcome. Results: No statistical correlation between CA-125 and first-trimester markers was observed except with PAPP-A, with which it exhibited a positive correlation. Additionally, no correlation was made between it and third-trimester blood pressure or pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: CA-125 first-trimester values do not represent a valuable marker for pre-eclampsia screening. Further research on identifying an accessible and cheap marker to improve pre-eclampsia screening in low- and middle-income settings is needed.

Economic Impact Analysis of Incorporation of Elecsys sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio Into Routine Practice for the Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Pregnant Women With Suspected Preeclampsia in Argentina

OBJECTIVES

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that can cause severe complications and adverse fetal/maternal outcomes. We aimed to estimate the annual economic impact of incorporating Elecsys® sFlt-1/PlGF PE ratio, which measures soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor, into routine clinical practice in Argentina to aid diagnosis of PE and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome from second trimester onward in pregnancies with clinical suspicion of PE.

METHODS

A decision tree was used to estimate annual economic impact on the Argentine health system as a whole, including relevant costs associated with diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment from initial presentation of clinically suspected PE to delivery. Annual costs of a standard-of-care scenario and a scenario including PE ratio (reference year 2021) were analyzed.

RESULTS

The economic model estimated that using the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio would enable the overall health system to save ∼$6987 million Argentine pesos annually (95% confidence interval $12 045-$2952 million), a 39.1% reduction in costs versus standard of care, mainly due to reduced hospitalizations of women with suspected PE. The economic impact calculation estimated net annual savings of approximately $80 504 Argentine pesos per patient with suspected PE. Based on the assumed uncertainty of the parameters, the likelihood the intervention would be cost saving was 100% for the considered scenarios.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis suggests that the implementation of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in women with suspected PE in Argentina will enable the health system to achieve significant savings, contributing to more efficient clinical management through the likely reduction of unnecessary hospitalizations, depending on assumptions. Results rest on the payers' ability to recover savings generated by the intervention.

The Effect of Selenium Supplementation on Clinical Outcomes, Metabolic Profiles, and Pulsatility Index of the Uterine Artery in High-Risk Mothers in Terms of Preeclampsia Screening with Quadruple Test: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial : Selenium and preeclampsia

Data on the effects of selenium (Se) supplementation on clinical outcomes, metabolic profiles, and pulsatility index (PI) in high-risk mothers in terms of preeclampsia (PE) screening with quadruple tests are scarce. This study evaluated the effects of Se supplementation on clinical outcomes, metabolic profiles, and uterine artery PI on Doppler ultrasound in high-risk mothers in terms of PE screening with quad marker. The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 high-risk pregnant women screening for PE with quad tests. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups (30 participants each group), received either 200 µg/day Se supplements (as Se amino acid chelate) or placebo from 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy for 12 weeks. Clinical outcomes, metabolic profiles, and uterine artery PI were assessed at baseline and at the end of trial. Se supplementation resulted in a significant elevation in serum Se levels (β 22.25 µg/dl; 95% CI, 18.3, 26.1; P < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Also, Se supplementation resulted in a significant elevation in total antioxidant capacity (β 82.88 mmol/L; 95% CI, 3.03, 162.73; P = 0.04), and total glutathione (β 71.35 µmol/L; 95% CI, 5.76, 136.94; P = 0.03), and a significant reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (β - 1.52; 95% CI, - 2.91, - 0.14; P = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Additionally, Se supplementation significantly decreased PI of the uterine artery in Doppler ultrasound (β - 0.09; 95% CI, - 0.14, - 0.04; P = 0.04), and a significant improvement in depression (β - 5.63; 95% CI, - 6.97, - 4.28; P < 0.001), anxiety (β - 1.99; 95% CI, - 2.56, - 1.42; P < 0.001), and sleep quality (β - 1.97; 95% CI, - 2.47, - 1.46; P < 0.001). Se supplementation for 12 weeks in high-risk pregnant women in terms of PE screening with quad marker had beneficial effects on serum Se level, some metabolic profiles, uterine artery PI, and mental health. IRCT Registration: htpp:// www.irct.ir ; identifier IRCT20200608047701N1.

Clinical utility of sFlt-1 and PlGF in screening, prediction, diagnosis and monitoring of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is characterized by placental and maternal endothelial dysfunction, and associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR), placental abruption, preterm delivery and stillbirth. The angiogenic factors soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) are altered in pregnancies complicated by placenta-related disorders. In this Review, we summarize the existing knowledge, examining the performance of maternal PlGF, sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for screening PE, predicting development of PE in the short term, diagnosing PE, monitoring established PE and predicting other placenta-related disorders in singleton pregnancy. We also discuss the performance of PlGF and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for predicting PE in twin pregnancy. For first-trimester screening in singleton pregnancy, a more accurate way of identifying high-risk women than current practice is to combine maternal PlGF levels with clinical risk factors and ultrasound markers. Later in pregnancy, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has advantages over PlGF because it has a higher pooled sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing and monitoring PE. It has clinical value because it can rule out the development of PE in the 1-4-week period after the test. Once a diagnosis of PE is established, repeat measurement of sFlt-1 and PlGF can help monitor progression of the condition and may inform clinical decision-making regarding the optimal time for delivery. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is useful for predicting FGR and preterm delivery, but the association between stillbirth and the angiogenic factors is unclear. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio can be used to predict PE in twin pregnancy, although different sFlt-1/PlGF ratio cut-offs from those for singleton pregnancy should be applied for optimal performance. In summary, PlGF, sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio are useful for screening, diagnosing, predicting and monitoring placenta-related disorders in singleton and twin pregnancy. We propose that tests for these angiogenic factors are integrated more fully into clinical practice.© 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Studying Pregnancy Outcome Risk in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on Cluster Analysis

Background. Pregnancy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is a challenge due to the potential maternal and fetal complications. Therefore, a multidisciplinary assessment of disease risk before and during pregnancy is essential to improve pregnancy outcomes. Objectives. Our purpose was to (i) define clusters of patients with similar history and laboratory features and determine the associative maternal and perinatal outcomes and (ii) evaluate the risk spectrum of maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancy in SLE patients, represented by our established risk-assessment chart. Methods. Medical records of 119 patients in China were analyzed retrospectively. Significant variables with $p<0.05$ were selected. The self-organizing map was used for clustering the data based on historical background and laboratory features. Results. Clustering was conducted using 21 maternal and perinatal features. Five clusters were recognized, and their prominent maternal manifestations were as follows: cluster 1 (including 27.73% of all patients): preeclampsia and lupus nephritis; cluster 2 (22.69%): oligohydramnios, uterus scar, and femoral head necrosis; cluster 3 (13.45%): upper respiratory tract infection; cluster 4 (15.97%): premature membrane rupture; and cluster 5 (20.17%): no problem. Conclusion. Pregnancy outcomes in SLE women fell into three categories, namely high risk, moderate risk, and low risk. Present manifestations, besides the medical records, are a potential assessment means for better management of pregnant SLE patients.

The diagnostic value of angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in differential diagnosis of preeclampsia

The definition of preeclampsia is changing. However, with the addition of organ symptoms to the presence of hypertension in pregnancy instead of relying only on proteinuria, a more precise detection of women at risk of preeclampsia-associated adverse events has not been achieved. Instead, under the new definitions of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy, more women are classified as preeclamptic, with a tendency to milder disease. Furthermore, angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors have emerged as essential tools for predicting and diagnosing preeclampsia at high accuracies. Next to being rooted in the pathophysiology of the disease, they have been proven to be reliable tools for predicting and diagnosing the disease. In addition, 2 cutoffs have been evaluated for the clinical setting. As shown in the Prediction of Short-Term Outcome in Pregnant Women With Suspected Preeclampsia Study, at the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1-to-placental growth factor ratio cutoff of 38, a preeclampsia can be ruled out for 1 week with a negative predictive value of 99.3% (95% confidence interval, 97.9-99.9) and ruled in with a positive predictive value of 36.7% (95% confidence interval, 28.4-45.7). The diagnostic cutoff of 85 has been shown to accurately identify women with preeclampsia, with a sensitivity of up to 88% and a specificity of 99.5%. In this review, we highlight the central role of angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors in the differential diagnosis of women presenting at high risk of the disease, such as patients with chronic hypertension or chronic kidney disease. We will focus on their ability to predict preeclampsia-associated adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. This is only possible when critically reviewing the evolution of the definition of "preeclampsia." We show how changes in this definition shape our clinical picture of the condition and how angiogenic and antiangiogenic biomarkers might be included to better identify women destined to develop preeclampsia-related adverse outcomes.

Clinical interpretation and implementation of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in the prediction, diagnosis and management of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality for mother and baby. Although around 30% of all pregnancies are evaluated for preeclampsia, diagnosis is difficult, especially in patients who have overlying symptoms from other diseases. Discovery of circulating angiogenic factors in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia has been a major advance for both diagnosis and prognosis. The anti-angiogenic factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and the pro-angiogenic factor, placental growth factor (PlGF), can be measured in plasma and serum and are usually reported as a ratio, which specifically relates to the onset and severity of preeclampsia. The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has a very high negative predictive value in ruling out the development of preeclampsia within 7 days among women with suspected preeclampsia. Currently, there is no clear consensus on the practical use of angiogenic biomarkers in the detection and management of preeclampsia in routine clinical practice. While major international clinical guidelines exist, they do not define which specific parameters signal patient admission, or outpatient evaluation of suspected preeclampsia, and most clinicians follow local practices. Better guidance is needed on risk stratification among women with suspected preeclampsia, as well as among women at high risk for preeclampsia. Prediction of adverse outcomes in women, after the clinical diagnosis of preeclampsia, is also important. This report has been developed following a meeting of international experts and aims to guide clinicians in the management of pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia using the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test.

Women's attitudes, beliefs and values about tests, and management for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Advances in research suggest the possibility of improving routine clinical care for preeclampsia using screening (predictive) and diagnostic tests. The views of women should be incorporated into the way in which such tests are used. Therefore, we explored the views of women with experience of preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) about predictive and diagnostic tests, treatment risks, and expectant management.

METHOD

Eight hundred and seven women with experience of preeclampsia or other HDPs completed an online questionnaire. These women were participants in the Preeclampsia Registry (USA). The questionnaire contained 22 items to elicit women's views about predictive tests (n = 8); diagnostic tests (n = 5); treatment risks (n = 7), and expectant management (n = 2). An optional text box allowed participants to add qualitative open-ended comments. Levels of agreement with the statements were reported descriptively for the sample as a whole, and a preliminary investigation of the role of lived experience in shaping women's views was conducted by comparing subgroups within the sample based on time of HDP delivery (preterm/term). The qualitative data provided in the optional text box was analysed using inductive thematic analysis to examine participants' responses.

RESULTS

Women generally favored predictive and diagnostic testing, although not because they would opt for termination of pregnancy. Participants generally disagreed that taking daily low-dose aspirin (LDA) would make them nervous, with disagreement significantly higher in the preterm delivery subgroup. A high proportion of participants, especially in the preterm delivery subgroup, would take LDA throughout pregnancy. The majority of participants would be more worried about the possibility of preeclampsia than about the risks of treatments to their health (60%), and that proportion was significantly higher in the preterm delivery subgroup. There were no differences between subgroups in the views expressed about expectant management, although opinion was divided in both groups. Overall, most participants opted to put the baby's interests first.

CONCLUSION

Women with experience of hypertensive disorders were enthusiastic about improved predictive and diagnostic tests. However, varied views about treatment options and expectant management suggest the need for a shared decision-making tool to enable healthcare professionals to support pregnant women's decision-making to maximize the utility of these tests and interventions.

Relevance of maternal sodium level for preeclampsia-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate maternal sodium levels in women with preeclampsia (PE) or at high risk for preeclampsia and their relevance for severe PE-associated adverse pregnancy outcome and remaining pregnancy duration.

STUDY DESIGN

In a retrospective cohort of 198 patients presenting with signs and symptoms of preeclampsia (PE), we investigated maternal sodium level and the sFlt-1/PlGF-ratio within 14 days prior to delivery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

In total, 88 patients (44.4%) developed a maternal and/or fetal and neonatal preeclampsia-associated adverse outcome (AO). The median sodium level was lower in the cohort with vs. without AO (136 vs. 137 mmol/l) and correlated negatively with the sFlt-1/PlGF-ratio (r = -0.19, 95% CI: -0.31 to -0.05) in both groups. Logistic regression revealed a significant association of the maternal sodium level with the development of an AO (+1 mmol/l reduced the odds by 21%, [Odds ratio (OR) of 0.79 (95% CI 0.67-0.93), p < 0.01], whereas the sFlt-1/PlGF showed a contrary effect (+10 units OR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02-1.08, p < 0.01)). Linear mixed effects models showed consistent results, with sodium level positively associated with the remaining pregnancy duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the relevance of decreased maternal sodium level as a severity marker for PE-associated adverse outcomes.

Interleukin-1β and uric acid as potential second-trimester predictive biomarkers of preeclampsia

Methods: The prospective study was conducted at the University Hospital from February 2020 to December 2020. The study population (n = 88) included women who later developed PE (n = 42), as well as women who were healthy at birth (n = 46) in the second trimester of pregnancy. Serum levels of CRP, IL-1β, uric acid, creatinine, AST, ALT, MPV, Hb, PC, vitamin D, Ca, and Mg were compared between the groups.Results: Serum IL-1β and uric acid levels were significantly higher in subjects who eventually developed PE compared with those who did not.Conclusions: IL-1β and uric acid may be a predictive markers for PE. Maternal serum IL-1β and uric acid levels in the second trimester of pregnancy may be a predictive markers for PE.

Role of A Novel Angiogenesis FKBPL-CD44 Pathway in Preeclampsia Risk Stratification and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment

CONTEXT

Preeclampsia is a leading cardiovascular complication in pregnancy lacking effective diagnostic and treatment strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic target potential of the angiogenesis proteins, FK506-binding protein like (FKBPL) and CD44.

DESIGN AND INTERVENTION

FKBPL and CD44 plasma concentration or placental expression were determined in women pre- or postdiagnosis of preeclampsia. Trophoblast and endothelial cell function was assessed following mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatment and in the context of FKBPL signaling.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

Human samples prediagnosis (15 and 20 weeks of gestation; n ≥ 57), or postdiagnosis (n = 18 for plasma; n = 4 for placenta) of preeclampsia were used to determine FKBPL and CD44 levels, compared to healthy controls. Trophoblast or endothelial cells were exposed to low/high oxygen, and treated with MSC-conditioned media (MSC-CM) or a FKBPL overexpression plasmid.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Preeclampsia risk stratification and diagnostic potential of FKBPL and CD44 were investigated. MSC treatment effects and FKBPL-CD44 signaling in trophoblast and endothelial cells were assessed.

RESULTS

The CD44/FKBPL ratio was reduced in placenta and plasma following clinical diagnosis of preeclampsia. At 20 weeks of gestation, a high plasma CD44/FKBPL ratio was independently associated with the 2.3-fold increased risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-5.23, P = 0.04). In combination with high mean arterial blood pressure (>82.5 mmHg), the risk further increased to 3.9-fold (95% CI 1.30-11.84, P = 0.016). Both hypoxia and MSC-based therapy inhibited FKBPL-CD44 signaling, enhancing cell angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The FKBPL-CD44 pathway appears to have a central role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, showing promising utilities for early diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Prediction of Preeclampsia-Related Adverse Outcomes With the sFlt-1 (Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 1)/PlGF (Placental Growth Factor)-Ratio in the Clinical Routine: A Real-World Study

This retrospective real-world study investigated the clinical use of the sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1)/PlGF (placental growth factor) ratio alone or in combination with other clinical tests to predict an adverse maternal (maternal death, kidney failure, hemolysis elevated liver enzymes low platelets-syndrome, pulmonary edema, disseminated intravascular coagulation, cerebral hemorrhage, or eclampsia) or fetal (delivery before 34 weeks because of preeclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, placental abruption or intrauterine fetal death or neonatal death within 7 days post natum) pregnancy outcome in patients with signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. We evaluated the sFlt-1/PlGF-ratio cutoff values of 38 and 85 and evaluated its integration into a multimarker model. Of 1117 subjects, 322 (28.8%) developed an adverse fetal or maternal outcome. Patients with an adverse versus no adverse outcome had a median sFlt-1/PlGF-ratio of 177 (interquartile range, 54-362) versus 14 (4-64). Risk-stratification with the sFlt-1/PlGF cutoff values into high- (>85), intermediate- (38-85), and low-risk (<38) showed a significantly shorter time to delivery in high- and intermediate- versus low-risk patients (4 versus 8 versus 29 days). When integrating all available clinical information into a multimarker model, an area under the curve of 88.7% corresponding to a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 80.0%, 87.3%, 75.0%, and 90.2% was reached. The sFlt-1/PlGF-ratio alone was inferior to the full model with an area under the curve of 85.7%. As expected, blood pressure and proteinuria were significantly less accurate with an area under the curve of 69.0%. Combining biomarker measurements with all available information in a multimarker modeling approach increased detection of adverse outcomes in women with suspected disease.

Concordance-analysis and evaluation of different diagnostic algorithms used in first trimester screening for late-onset preeclampsia

Objective: Concordance-analysis and evaluation of existing algorithms detecting late-onset preeclampsia during first trimester screeningMethods: Retrospective cohort study investigating risk algorithms of late-onset preeclampsia during first trimester screening in a German prenatal center. Three previously developed algorithms including anamnestic factors (Apriori) and biophysical markers (BioM) were investigated by using detection rates (DR) with fixed FPR 10% and fixed cutoff >1:100. Furthermore, we set up a concordance-analysis of test results in late-onset preeclampsia cases to examine the effect of influencing factors and to detect potential weaknesses of the algorithms. Therefore, we modeled the probability of discordances as a function of the influencing factors based on a logistic regression, that was fitted using a Bayesian approach.Results: 6,113 pregnancies were considered, whereof 700 have been excluded and 5,413 pregnancies were analyzed. 98 (1.8%) patients developed preeclampsia (79 late-onsets, 19 early-onsets). The Apriori-algorithm reaches a DR of 34.2%, by adding BioM (MAP and UtA-PI) the DR improves to 57.0% (FPR of 10%). In concordance-analysis of Apriori algorithm and Apriori+BioM algorithms, influencing factor BMI<25 increases the chance of discordances sigificantly. Additional, in the subgroup of late-onset preeclampsias with BMI<25 the DR is higher in Apriori+BioM algorithms than in Apriori algorithm alone. If both compared algorithms include BioM, influencing factor MAP decreases the chance of discordances significantly. All other tested influencing factors do not have a statistically significant effect on discordancesConclusion: Normal-weight patients benefit more from the integration of MAP and UtA-PI compared to overweight/obese patients.

Early prediction of preeclampsia via machine learning

BACKGROUND

Early prediction of preeclampsia is challenging because of poorly understood causes, various risk factors, and likely multiple pathogenic phenotypes of preeclampsia. Statistical learning methods are well-equipped to deal with a large number of variables, such as patients' clinical and laboratory data, and to select the most informative features automatically.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to use statistical learning methods to analyze all available clinical and laboratory data that were obtained during routine prenatal visits in early pregnancy and to use them to develop a prediction model for preeclampsia.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study that used data from 16,370 births at Lucile Packard Children Hospital at Stanford, CA, from April 2014 to January 2018. Two statistical learning algorithms were used to build a predictive model: (1) elastic net and (2) gradient boosting algorithm. Models for all preeclampsia and early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks gestation) were fitted with the use of patient data that were available at <16 weeks gestational age. The 67 variables that were considered in the models included maternal characteristics, medical history, routine prenatal laboratory results, and medication intake. The area under the receiver operator curve, true-positive rate, and false-positive rate were assessed via cross-validation.

RESULTS

Using the elastic net algorithm, we developed a prediction model that contained a subset of the most informative features from all variables. The obtained prediction model for preeclampsia yielded an area under the curve of 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.83), sensitivity of 45.2%, and false-positive rate of 8.1%. The prediction model for early-onset preeclampsia achieved an area under the curve of 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.95), true-positive rate of 72.3%, and false-positive rate of 8.8%.

CONCLUSION

Statistical learning methods in a retrospective cohort study automatically identified a set of significant features for prediction and yielded high prediction performance for preeclampsia risk from routine early pregnancy information.