“SERUM PLACENTAL GROWTH FACTOR LEVELS AND UTERINE ARTERY DOPPLER PULSATILITY INDEX AT 11-13 WEEKS 6 DAYS GESTATION AS EARLY PREDICTIVE MARKERS OF PRE-ECLAMPSIA AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY”

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE : To detect serum placental growth factor levels and uterine artery doppler pulsatility index for predicting pre-eclampsia and assess their association with the severity of pre-eclampsia. DESIGN : Prospective observational study SETTING : Tertiary care centre POPULATION : All antenatal women from 11 to 13+6weeks gestation attending antenatal clinic during study period. METHODS : This involved 160 antenatal women, from 11-13+6 weeks gestation. Serum PlGF levels and UA doppler mean P.I measured and patients were followed up upto delivery and observed for the development of pre-eclampsia and its severity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : PIGF Value cut-off was 40.33pg/ml with the sensitivity of 97.5 % and Specificity was 98.3%. For the PI Value of 1.85 the sensitivity was found to be 74.4% and Specificity was found to be 92.5%. RESULTS : Mean serum PlGF levels for pre-eclampsia patients was 25.09pg/ml and for normotensive patients mean PlGF level was 65.05pg/ml. Mean UA doppler P.I for pre-eclampsia patients was 2.02 and for normotensive patients was 1.39. Mean PI value increased with increasing severity of preeclampsia. CONCLUSION : Early recognition of women will help initiation of prophylactic measures and enhanced surveillance. First trimester UA Doppler with serum PlGF together with maternal characteristics can be used as a reliable screening test for preeclampsia prediction and to reduce feto-maternal morbidity KEYWORDS : uterine artery (UA) doppler pulsality index (P.I), placental growth factor levels(PlGF), pre-eclampsia, eclampsia