Introduction
Pre-eclampsia, a disease characterized by widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, and proteinuria, is a leading contributor of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in the world. This pregnancy-specific disease is complicating about two to eight percent of pregnancies. Therefore, it is important to identify women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia in order to reduce complications and to develop possible treatment modalities. 1,2,3
Preeclampsia has a complex pathophysiology, the main cause including infarcts, atherosis, thrombosis, and chronic inflammation. In recent studies, it is known that angiogenic factors have a significant role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. These factors include antiangiogenic proteins, for example soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), and proangiogenic protein such as placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor
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However, there is still no reliable biomarker test for pre-eclampsia that has been accepted for wide clinical use. Thus, it is important to develop a screening tool which is clinically relevant due to the serious consequences of incorrect risk stratification and inappropriate medication or pregnancy surveillance. In this study, we conclude that currently PlGF was best at predicting pre-eclampsia as a single biomarker and was more predictive of the need for delivery than other commonly used signs and tests. Usage of single biomarker seems more clinically appealing than combination of biomarkers due to its simplicity and low cost. But still, a well-designed study for PlGF as a biomarker to predict pre-eclampsia should be conducted in clearly defined populations. We hope this review will contribute to identifying the best predictive marker and improve the management of women at risk of