This is a plain English summary of an original research article. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and reviewer(s) at the time of publication.
Measuring the level of placental growth factor (PlGF) in women with suspected pre-eclampsia helps to reduce the time to diagnose pre-eclampsia from 4 days to 2 days. PlGF testing is also associated with fewer adverse outcomes for mothers.
In this NIHR-funded trial, the test results were used alongside the NICE clinical management algorithm to help clinicians make a diagnosis.
Pre-eclampsia can lead to serious complications for mothers and babies. Women with suspected pre-eclampsia require further tests and monitoring. A quicker diagnosis should reduce delays in management for those affected, and reduce unnecessary monitoring and worry for others.
Why was this study needed?
Hypertension affects 10% of pregnancies, with pre-eclampsia complicating 3% of singleton pregnancies. It is thought to be caused by a problem with the development of the placenta. Early effects include high blood pressure and protein in the urine, but are often without symptoms. Pre-eclampsia is both difficult to diagnose and can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby.
Blood pressure and urine protein levels are checked routinely throughout pregnancy. From 20 weeks gestation, if these results suggest pre-eclampsia, a PlGF blood test can be used to help rule it out. If PlGF levels are high, it’s very unlikely to be pre-eclampsia. If they are low, it indicates a potential problem with the placenta, but not necessarily pre-eclampsia.
This is the first randomised controlled trial to assess whether knowing PlGF levels, along with a clinical management algorithm, speeds up a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, and whether this had an impact on the mothers’ and babies’ health.
What did this study do?
This randomised controlled trial compared usual care using the NICE management algorithm with usual care plus PIGF level. It was carried out in eleven maternity units in the UK between 2016 and 2017. The trial included women with singleton pregnancies before 37 weeks gestation with suspected pre-eclampsia.
From the start of the trial, PlGF measurements were taken, but results were concealed from clinicians and women. The maternity units were randomised to reveal ongoing local test results to clinicians at six-week intervals.
Of 1,023 eligible participants, 447 women (44%) were randomised to receive usual care (with PlGF test results concealed), and 576 women (56%) were randomised to have test results revealed to clinicians.
The pragmatic, stepped-wedge study design is particularly suited to this sort of complex intervention and ensures that every participating maternity unit can test the management algorithm. This trial did not address the value of repeated PlGF testing, nor whether using PlGF as a continuous measure could improve risk assessments or prognostic stratification.
What did it find?
- The median time to pre-eclampsia diagnosis was 2.2 days less in the revealed PlGF testing group; 1.9 days compared with 4.1 days in the usual care group. After adjustment for risk factors (such as gestational age, previous pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension and chronic kidney disease) this corresponded to a 64% reduction in time to diagnosis (95% confidence interval (CI) 13% to 85% reduction).
- Maternal adverse outcomes appeared to occur in fewer women in the revealed testing group: 4% (22/573) compared with 5% (24/447) of women in the usual care group (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.32, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.96).
- There was no difference demonstrated in perinatal adverse outcomes, which affected 14% of each group (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.90), and no difference in gestation at delivery.
- Before 35 weeks gestation, low PlGF measurements (<100 pg/ml) had a sensitivity of 94.9% in detecting pre-eclampsia requiring delivery within 14 days, and a negative predictive value of 98.3%.
What does current guidance say on this issue?
NICE published guidance in 2016 on PlGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected pre-eclampsia. PlGF testing, in combination with clinical assessment and follow-up, is recommended to help rule-out pre-eclampsia in women in whom it is suspected between 20 weeks and 34+6 weeks gestation. The guidance notes there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine adoption of PlGF testing to rule-in pre-eclampsia.
NICE’s 2019 guideline on the diagnosis and management of hypertension in pregnancy recommends that PlGF testing is carried out once, to help rule out pre-eclampsia in women presenting with suspected pre-eclampsia after 20 weeks and before 35 weeks gestation.
What are the implications?
The study supports the use of PlGF testing in women with suspected pre-eclampsia.
Commissioners and providers of antenatal care should note that PlGF testing has been shown to be a useful diagnostic adjunct in women presenting with pre-eclampsia. It reduces the time to diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, and so promotes more timely management. This may be expected to lead to reduced adverse events for mothers and babies.
Citation and Funding
Duhig K, Myers J, Seed P et al. Placental growth factor testing to assess women with suspected pre-eclampsia: a multicentre, pragmatic, stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2019;393:1807-18
This project was funded by the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (project number PB-PG-0214-33054) and an NIHR professorship (number RP-2014-05-019).
Bibliography
NHS website. Pre-eclampsia. London: Department of Health and Social Care; 2018.
NICE. Hypertension in pregnancy. Clinical Knowledge Summary. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2016.
NICE. Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management. NG133. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2019.
NICE. PlGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected pre-eclampsia. DG23. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; 2016.
Produced by the University of Southampton and Bazian on behalf of NIHR through the NIHR Dissemination Centre
