Biomarker Test Diagnoses Placental Function

After separating plasma from a whole blood sample, the system provides rapid and accurate quantification of PlGF. The test can be performed in a laboratory or clinical setting and it provides results within 15 minutes.

A low PlGF measurement alerts the clinician to the high probability of preeclampsia. PlGF is made by the placenta and it encourages blood vessel growth. PlGF circulates at high concentrations in normal pregnancy, with levels peaking at 32 weeks and decreasing towards full term. However, the concentration of PlGF is significantly decreased in women with early onset preeclampsia. The Alere Triage PLGF test, (Morges, Switzerland), is a reliable diagnostic blood test which potentially can be used close to the mother without the need for elaborate equipment or trained laboratory staff.

Identifying early onset preeclampsia is important because the condition can escalate into dangerous crises. Women with early onset preeclampsia must be closely monitored to ensure the pregnancy is ended by delivery before the onset of serious complications. By accurately identifying which women have placental dysfunction, healthcare resources can be applied to the women at greatest risk of complications.

Christopher Redman, FCRP, FRCOG, an emeritus professor at Oxford University, (Oxford, UK), said, "No complication of human pregnancy is both so common and so dangerous for both mother and baby as preeclampsia. Yet its detection is fraught with uncertainties leading to over management for many expectant mothers while others have serious problems that go undetected.”

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