Elecsys^® sFlt-1/PlGF (Preeclampsia)

Pre-eclampsia is a serious multi-system complication of pregnancy, occurring in 3 - 5 % of pregnancies, and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide.^1-3

Pre-eclampsia is defined as new-onset of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. The clinical presentation of pre-eclampsia and subsequent clinical course of the disease can vary tremendously, making prediction, diagnosis and assessment of disease progression difficult.^1-3

Angiogenic factors (sFlt-1 and PlGF) are proven to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and their concentrations in maternal serum are altered even before the onset of the disease making them a tool for prediction and aid in diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.^1-3

In a recent multicentre, prospective study – PROGNOSIS (Prediction of short-term outcome in pregnant women with suspected pre-eclampsia study) – the Elecsys sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test proved to be a helpful tool in ­enabling clinicians to exclude pre-eclampsia for 1 week with very high confidence, ­reassuring women suspected of having the disease that it is safe to go home.^4,5

• Elecsys sFlt-1 and PlGF immunoassays for pre-eclampsia are the first available and approved automated diagnostic tests for fast and easy assessment in a clinical context^4,5
  
• The measurement of the Elecsys sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test enables clinicians to discharge women with the confidence that they will not develop pre-eclampsia within the next seven days, whilst ensuring those who need a high level of care receive it.^4-7,14
• Early and precise diagnosis of ­pre-eclampsia can lead to effective ­clinical management and improved ­outcome for both mother and child^4-7
  

First trimester screening of Pre-eclampsia

The use of Elecsys PlGF in first trimester screening combined with the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test as an aid in the diagnosis and short term prediction of PE, provides a complete solution for PE throughout pregnancy.

• Early-onset PE can be predicted effectively based on screening models including PlGF as one of the components⁸
• First-trimester screening of PE is important to proceed with prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin^9-13
  
• Identify women at high risk for PE with an algorithm including PlGF and subsequent administration of Aspirin may prevent preterm PE^9-13