Placental Angiogenic Imbalance and Its Association With Adverse Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease Pregnancies
Authors' conclusion
Pregnant women with CHD exhibited a placental angiogenic imbalance, with higher sFlt-1 and lower PlGF in late pregnancy than controls. This imbalance was associated with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly in women with high sFlt-1.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with congenital heart disease and healthy pregnant controls
- Participants
- 95 women
- Exposure
- Pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD) vs healthy controls
- CHDn = 32
- Controlsn = 63reference
- Outcome
- Third-trimester placental angiogenic biomarkers (sFlt-1, PlGF, sFlt-1/PlGF ratio) and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes
- Follow-up
- Third trimester
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Third-trimester sFlt-1, PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio
| Group | sFlt-1 | Placental growth factor (PlGF) | sFlt-1/PlGF ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHD | 2,578 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 2,095-4,493 pg/mL) | 276 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 164-510 pg/mL) | 9.55 (25th-75th percentile: 3.88-26.70) |
| Controls | 1,983 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 1,414-2.788 pg/mL) | 515 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 289-752 pg/mL) | 3.83 (25th-75th percentile: 1.91-7.32) |
sFlt-1
CHD2,578 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 2,095-4,493 pg/mL)
Controls1,983 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 1,414-2.788 pg/mL)
Placental growth factor (PlGF)
CHD276 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 164-510 pg/mL)
Controls515 pg/mL (25th-75th percentile: 289-752 pg/mL)
sFlt-1/PlGF ratio
CHD9.55 (25th-75th percentile: 3.88-26.70)
Controls3.83 (25th-75th percentile: 1.91-7.32)
- CHD vs Controls: P = 0.002 — sFlt-1 higher
- CHD vs Controls: P = 0.005 — PlGF lower
- CHD vs Controls: P = 0.001 — sFlt-1/PlGF ratio elevated
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Adverse outcomes in CHD, by sFlt-1 level (subgroup) · 4-fold higher risk
P = 0.024
- Rise in sFlt-1 between first and third trimesters · first to third trimester · greater rise in CHD
- P = 0.008
- Rise in sFlt-1 between first and third trimesters: subset of 66 with first-trimester serum
Original publication
Placental Angiogenic Imbalance and Its Association With Adverse Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease Pregnancies. JACC Adv. Published 4 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →