Pre-labor placental growth factor level can predict cesarean delivery due to fetal indications

Key clinical point: Maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) levels measured before labor may aid the prediction of cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction and fetal heart rate (FHR) function at delivery.

Major finding: Women having vaginal delivery had significantly higher pre-labor PlGF levels than those having a cesarean delivery owing to fetal dysfunction (157 ± 106 vs. 74 ± 62 pg/mL; P = .03). PlGF levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = −0.42; P = .01) with FHR findings at delivery according to the five-tier classification system.

Study details: The study analyzed PlGF levels in 33 primiparous singleton pregnant women at 35-42 weeks of gestation who were hospitalized before the onset of labor, of which 26 women had vaginal delivery and 7 had a cesarean delivery due to fetal indications.

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Disclosures: The study received no financial support. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka H et al. Placental growth factor level is correlated with intrapartum fetal heart rate findings. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022;22:215 (Mar 17). Doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04562-w