Background: This study is to explore the clinical significance of serum
sFlt-1, and placental growth factor (PLGF) contents, as well as sFlt-1/PLGF ratio
in predicting and diagnosing preeclampsia. Methods: Peripheral venous
blood was collected from all pregnant women at 11–33 weeks for biomarker
detection. Totally 105 patients with preeclampsia and 57 patients with severe
preeclampsia were included. Serum sFlt-1 and PLGF levels were determined, and
sFlt-1/PLGF ratio was calculated. Correlation between sFlt-1, PLGF, sFlt-1/PLGF
ratio and serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, lactate dehydrogenase and
calcium content levels were analyzed. receiver operating characteristic (ROC)
analysis was used to evaluate values of sFlt-1, PLGF and sFlt-1/PLGF ratios in
disease diagnosis and prediction. Results: Serum sFlt-1 content and
sFlt-1/PLGF ratio in Preeclampsia (PE) patients were significantly higher than
control. Serum sFlt-1 content and sFlt-1/PLGF ratio of the severe PE group were
significantly higher than the PE group. Serum PLGF contents of the PE and severe
PE group were significantly lower than control, and the difference in PLGF
content between the severe and PE groups was not significant. There was a
moderate correlation between the sFlt-1 content and the lactate dehydrogenase
level. There was a low-level correlation between the sFlt-1/PLGF ratio and the
lactate dehydrogenase level. The receiver ROC curve analysis showed that
sFlt/PLGF had greater predictive value for preeclampsia, with a sensitivity of
98.1% and a specificity of 78.2%. Conclusions: Serum sFlt-1 level and
sFlt-1/PlGF ratio have better predictive and diagnostic values, as well as better
auxiliary efficiency for preeclampsia. The diagnostic efficiency of sFlt-1/PlGF
ratio is better than sFlt-1 content alone.