Combination of serum angiopoietin-2 and uterine artery Doppler for prediction of preeclampsia

Hypertens Res. 2016 Feb;39(2):95-9. doi: 10.1038/hr.2015.113. Epub 2015 Oct 22.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of the combination of serum angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) levels and uterine artery Doppler for the detection of preeclampsia in women at 16-18 weeks of gestation and to identify other pregnancy complications that could be predicted with these combined tests. Maternal serum Ang-2 levels were measured, and uterine artery Doppler was performed in 400 pregnant women. The main outcome was preeclampsia. The predictive values of this combination were calculated. Twenty-five women (6.3%) developed preeclampsia. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of uterine artery Doppler combined with serum Ang-2 levels for the prediction of preeclampsia were 24.0%, 94.4%, 22.2% and 94.9%, respectively. For the prediction of early-onset preeclampsia, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 57.1%, 94.1%, 14.8% and 99.2%, respectively. Patients with abnormal uterine artery Doppler and abnormal serum Ang-2 levels (above 19.5 ng ml(-1)) were at higher risk for preterm delivery (relative risk=2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2-5.8). Our findings revealed that the combination of uterine artery Doppler and serum Ang-2 levels at 16-18 weeks of gestation can be used to predict early-onset preeclampsia but not overall preeclampsia. Thus, this combination may be a useful early second trimester screening test for the prediction of early-onset preeclampsia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Angiopoietin-2 / blood*
  • Birth Weight
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature
  • Pre-Eclampsia / blood
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnosis*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnostic imaging
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler
  • Uterine Artery / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • ANGPT2 protein, human
  • Angiopoietin-2