METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study, performed at Mater Mother's Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, from May 2022 to June 2023, of pregnancies complicated by FGR and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) pregnancies. Maternal serum PlGF levels, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, UA-PI and UtA-PI were measured at 2-4-weekly intervals from recruitment until delivery. Harrell's concordance statistic (Harrell's C) was used to evaluate multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models featuring various combinations of placental biomarkers and fetoplacental Doppler indices to ascertain the best combination to predict PTB ( 95th centile or UtA-PI > 95th centile alone (Harrell's C, 0.82, 0.75 and 0.76, respectively). Predictive utility for PTB was best when PlGF 95th centile and UtA-PI > 95th centile were combined (Harrell's C, 0.88) (hazard ratio, 32.99; 95% CI, 10.74-101.32).
CONCLUSIONS: Low maternal serum PlGF level ( 95th centile and UtA-PI > 95th centile) in combination have the greatest predictive utility for PTB in pregnancies complicated by FGR. Their assessment may help guide clinical management of these complex pregnancies. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study.
SETTING: Tertiary maternity hospital in Australia.
POPULATION: There were 320 singleton pregnancies: 141 (44.1%) AGA, 83 (25.9%) early FGR (<32+0 weeks) and 109 (30.0%) late FGR (≥32+0 weeks).
METHODS: Maternal serum PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were measured at 4-weekly intervals from recruitment to delivery. Low maternal PlGF levels and elevated sFlt-1/PlGF ratio were defined as <100 ng/L and >5.78 if <28 weeks and >38 if ≥28 weeks respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used. The analysis period was defined as the time from the first measurement of PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio to the time of birth or censoring.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary study outcome was overall PTB. The relative risks (RR) of birth within 1, 2 and 3 weeks and for medically indicated and spontaneous PTB were also ascertained.
RESULTS: The early FGR cohort had lower median PlGF levels (54 versus 229 ng/L, p