EP12.05: Correlation between angiogenetic biomarkers, urinary protein values and ascites in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

To investigate the correlation between SFLT-1/PlGF ratio, the 24-h urinary protein and the presence of maternal ascites in a population of women with new-onset Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HPD). Retrospective study including a cohort of women with new-onset HDP carrying a singleton viable pregnancy between 22 and 36 gestational weeks. At diagnosis, SFLT-1 and PlGF were assessed using Brahams Kryptor and the ratio was calculated. The amount of proteins on the 24h urine was also investigated and a value >5g/24h was used to define massive proteinuria. The presence of ascites was defined in if abdominal free fluid was detected at ultrasound examination. A total of 80 patients were included for the study purpose. A linear correlation was found between the SFLT-1/PlGF ratio and the 24h urinary-protein values (R2 = 0.21; p < 0.001). A massive proteinuria was detected in 17 women; Sflt-1/PlGf ratio had an AUC of 0.86 for predicting the presence of massive proteinuria with a cut-off value of 310.9 (sensitivity 88.2%, specificity 71.0%). Ascites was detected in 6 women; significantly higher values of SFLT-1/PlGF ratios were found in this group of women compared with those without ascites (1322.0 ± 1083.0 vs. 423.0 ± 734.0). Higher values of SFLT-1/PLGF ratios are associated with higher levels of urinary protein and higher incidence of maternal ascitis.