The role of the PLGF in the prediction of the outcome in pregnancies complicated with fetal microsomia

Abstract Purpose to explore the value of measuring maternal serum PLGF in the prediction of the outcome of microsomic fetuses. Methods Singleton pregnancies referred with suspicion of microsomia were included if they had: no indication for nor signs of imminent delivery, fetal abdominal circumference (AC) at or below the 10th centile and/or estimated fetal weight (EFW) at or below the 10th centile and/or umbilical artery pulsatility index (Umb-PI) at or above the 90th centile for gestation. Women with pre-eclampsia at presentation were excluded. Maternal blood was drawn at the first (index) visit and analyzed retrospectively. Results 51 fetuses were examined. Multiple regression analysis showed that history of microsomia, index EFW and PLGF were significant predictors of the birthweight centile; index femur length centile and PLGF were significant predictors of pre-eclampsia; PLGF and index systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of iatrogenic preterm delivery < 37 weeks whereas PLGF and index EFW were significant predictors of birthweight ≤ 5th centile and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. For all outcomes the addition of maternal-fetal parameters did not improve the prediction compared to PLGF alone. Using a cut off of 0.3 MoM for PLGF would identify 94.1% of the pregnancies with iatrogenic preterm delivery and/or intra-uterine death and all of the cases that developed pre-eclampsia, for a screen positive rate of 54.9%. Women with PLGF ≤ 0.3 MoM had a poor fetal/maternal outcome (iatrogenic preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, intra-uterine death) in 61.5% of cases. Conclusion In pregnancies complicated by fetal microsomia PLGF identifies a very high-risk group that may benefit from intense surveillance.