Could Placental Growth Factor Testing Transform Preeclampsia Care in Canada and Beyond?
Several biomarker tests are under development to predict or diagnose preeclampsia. While none of these tests are yet widely accepted in U.S. clinical practice, two FDA-approved tests are available in the U.S. for hospitalized patients to help assess whether a patient may go on to develop severe symptoms within two weeks. In some countries, a blood test that measures the ratio of sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) and PlGF (placental growth factor)—two proteins related to blood vessel development in the placenta—is used to help predict which patients with suspected preeclampsia are likely to develop the condition in the near future or experience adverse consequences. In patients who do develop preeclampsia, the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio can be elevated early in pregnancy, suggesting that the body is attempting to limit blood vessel formation—potentially contributing to complications such as high blood pressure and organ damage.
Detecting preeclampsia early helps clinicians ensure timely referral to specialized care centers, deliver treatments that support better outcomes for newborns, and maintain close monitoring of the patient before delivery. However, timely diagnosis of preeclampsia remains challenging.
A blood test that measures placental growth factor (PlGF) offers a way to detect preeclampsia at its early stages. PlGF is a protein produced by the placenta that helps regulate blood vessel growth and circulation during pregnancy. Low PlGF levels signal placental developmental problems and are linked to preeclampsia.
Recent studies conducted in the U.K. and Canada have shown that measuring PlGF after 20 weeks’ gestation can help identify preeclampsia with high accuracy and shorten the time to diagnosis by more than two days. The earlier the diagnosis, the greater the chances that clinicians and patients can safely manage the condition.
PlGF testing offers dual benefits: it reduces the risk of severe complications among patients at high risk for preeclampsia, while sparing those with normal results from unnecessary consultations or medical interventions. Recognizing these benefits, national guidelines from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) now support the integration of PlGF testing to assess patients with suspected preeclampsia.
While PlGF testing represents a promising step toward the timely diagnosis of preeclampsia, researchers acknowledge the importance of ensuring equitable access in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Successful implementation will require proper consent processes, patient education, and clear communication about the potential implications of testing.
This important work comes from Dr. Kingdom’s research group, with lead author Kelsey McLaughlin, one of Preeclampsia Foundation Canada’s grant recipients. The study provides compelling evidence for incorporating PlGF testing into clinical pathways to improve outcomes for patients across Canada. To learn more about Preeclampsia Foundation Canada’s work, visit https://preeclampsiacanada.ca/.
Take-home message: PlGF testing presents a major opportunity to improve maternal and newborn outcomes, aid in faster and more accurate diagnoses, and offer increasingly equitable obstetric care in Canada and beyond. Future research could explore the use of PlGF as a diagnostic tool and its implementation into clinical care pathways in the United States.
Citation:
McLaughlin, Kelsey et al. Placental Growth Factor Diagnostic Testing: An Opportunity to Transform Pregnancy Care for Patients With Suspected Preeclampsia in Canada. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, Volume 47, Issue 10, 103076.
https://www.jogc.com/article/S1701-2163(25)00322-6/fulltext
About Research Roundup
Each quarter, our team of science writers reviews the most current research studies related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and summarizes those studies of greatest interest and potential impact to our community, including research studies related to risk assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Special thanks to our volunteer research team including Dr. Sig-Linda Jacobson, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, Dr. Julie Reynolds, Amanda Yang, and Simren Gupta who make Research Roundup possible, and to our Patient Advisory Council, who reviews these materials from the patient perspective.
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