Obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome: early variations of angiogenic factors are associated with adverse outcomes

Haematologica. 2017 May;102(5):835-842. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2016.155184. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Abstract

The prognostic value of angiogenic factors in newly pregnant women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (oAPS) has not been documented. We observed 513 oAPS who experienced three consecutive spontaneous abortions before the 10th week of gestation or one fetal loss at or beyond the 10th week. We assessed the plasma concentrations of the proangiogenic factor placenta growth factor (PIGF) and of the antiangiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 on the eve and on the 4th day of the low-molecular weight heparin-low-dose aspirin treatment. Placenta growth factor and fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 plasma concentrations showed marked increases. Treatment-associated variations of PIGF and of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 were antagonist risk factors for placenta-mediated complications (PMC) and for severe PMC, for fetal death, stillbirth and neonatal death. The ratio between PIGF increase and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 was a summary variable whose best cut-off values (1.944.10-2) had high negative predictive values for PMC (0.918) and may be used to help rule out the development of PMC in evolutive pregnancies after 19 completed weeks. The early variations of PIGF and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 concentrations in newly pregnant oAPS may help to detect patients at low risk of PMC. (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 02855047).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / blood*
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / blood*
  • Placenta / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / blood*
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First / blood*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / blood*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PIGF protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
  • Aspirin