Objective To investigate the maternal plasma concentration of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFIt-1) and free Vascular endothelial growth factor (free-VEGF) at 11 to 13 weeks of gestation in patients destined to develop preeclampsia (PE) and to examine whether any possible differences in maternal plasma levels Lire related to uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and maternal serum placental growth factor (PIGF).Methods Plasma free-VEGF, plasma sFIt-1, serum PIGF and uterine artery PI were measured at 11 to 13 weeks in 90 cases that subsequently developed PE and in 180 Unaffected controls.Results In the majority of cases of PE and controls the levels of free-VEGF were undetectable. In the pregnancies that developed PE, compared to unaffected Controls, uterine artery PI was higher, serum PIGF was lower but there was no significant difference in levels of sFIt-1.Conclusion Measurement of free-VEGF and sFIt-1 in maternal blood at I I to 13 weeks of gestation is not useful in the prediction of pregnancies destined to develop PE. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
