Relationship between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and the optical coherence tomographic features of chorioretina in patients with preeclampsia

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 9;16(12):e0261287. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261287. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ophthalmologic factors and the serologic indicator soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1): placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio in patients with preeclampsia using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A). A total of 52 pregnant patients (104 eyes) diagnosed with preeclampsia were recruited during their hospital stay. The associations between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and chorioretinal measurements, including the choroidal thickness (CT), foveal avascular zone, vascular density, and ganglion cell layer+ were evaluated. Central and nasal subfield CT of the left eye (p = 0.039; p = 0.010) and nasal subfield CT of the right eye (p = 0.042) were lower in the high sFlt-1/PlGF ratio group (≥38). Pearson's correlation test showed a negative correlation between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and central subfield CT; however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.648). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant association between the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and central subfield CT (β coefficient, -6.66; p = 0.01) and between sFlt-1 and central subfield CT (β coefficient, -5.65; p = 0.00). Thus, an increase in the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio resulted in a decrease in central subfield CT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Choroid / metabolism
  • Choroid / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Placenta Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnosis*
  • Retinal Detachment / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Detachment / etiology
  • Retinal Detachment / metabolism
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • PGF protein, human
  • Placenta Growth Factor
  • FLT1 protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2019R1G1A1011559). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. https://www.nrf.re.kr/index fund award: YCK.