Key clinical point: M aternal 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.
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