Variable expression of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 in patients at high risk for preeclampsia

Objective.To explore angiogenic factor differences in preeclamptic patients according to the absence or presence of underlying vascular disease. Methods.We prospectively compared serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt1), soluble endoglin, and placental growth factor (PlGF) from 41 normal-risk and 32 high-risk (preexisting conditions) subjects at serial gestational ages. Results.Median sFlt1 was lower at delivery in preeclamptic patients with underlying chronic hypertension and/or chronic proteinuria (5115pg/ml) compared with normal risk preeclamptic patients (16375pg/ml). PlGF was consistently low in patients who developed preeclampsia. Conclusions.Effects of sFlt1 may be contextual, varying according to the health or disease state of vascular endothelium.