Elecsys^® sFlt-1/PlGF (Preeclampsia)

Preeclampsia 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

Preeclampsia is defined as new-onset of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. The clinical presentation of preeclampsia 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 preeclampsia 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 preeclampsia.^1-3

In a recent multicentre, prospective study – PROGNOSIS (Prediction of short-term outcome in pregnant women with suspected preeclampsia study) – the Elecsys sFlt-1/PlGF ratio proved to be a helpful tool in ­enabling clinicians to exclude preeclampsia 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 preeclampsia 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 is a reliable tool to identify the patients that are at high risk to develop preeclampsia requiring a closer monitoring and to confidently send home patients that are not likely to develop the disease^4-7
  
• Early and precise diagnosis of ­preeclampsia can lead to effective ­clinical management and improved ­outcome for both mother and child^4-7

The additional value of first trimester screening combined with the value of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio as an aid in the diagnosis of PE and short term prediction and the prediction of adverse outcomes 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