Blood Test Can Distinguish Preeclampsia from Active Lupus Nephritis

Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble Flt‐1 (sFlt‐1) in pregnant women can differentiate between preeclampsia, inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and active lupus nephritis, according to a study published in Arthritis Care & Research.

For the study, researchers collected serum samples from pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Samples were taken 3 weeks before the women gave birth and were frozen for subsequent blinded analysis.

Among 71 pregnant women included in the study, 41 had inactive SLE, 15 had active lupus nephritis—which was defined as a Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Pregnancy Disease Activity Index of 4 or higher—and 15 had preeclampsia.

Women with preeclampsia had significantly higher levels of sFlt‐1 and lower levels of PlGF compared with the other women in the analysis, according to the study.

“The sFlt‐1:PlGF ratio was also significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia,” researchers added, “while mean VEGF levels were higher in pregnant women with active lupus nephritis compared to patients with preeclampsia or inactive systemic lupus erythematosus.”

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference

de Jesús GR, Lacerda MI, Rodrigues BC, et al. Soluble Flt-1, placental growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor serum levels to differentiate between active lupus nephritis during pregnancy and preeclampsia. Arthritis Care Res. 2021;73(5):717-721.