Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension
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Our aim was to evaluate the onset threshold of plasma levels of the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio for predicting the imminent onset of preeclampsia (PE) within 4 weeks after blood sampling. We prospectively measured the plasma levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF by an automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay at 19-25 weeks of gestation in 1199 women and at 26-31 weeks of gestation in 798 women. ⋯ The onset threshold of plasma levels of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 19-25 weeks showed a sensitivity (SE) of 1.00, a specificity (SP) of 1.00, a positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of ∞ and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 1.00; the onset threshold of plasma levels of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at 26-31 weeks showed a SE of 0.83, a SP of 0.994, a LR+ of 132 (95% CI: 51-339) and a PPV of 0.50. In conclusion, the onset threshold of plasma levels of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio was shown to be a highly sensitive and a highly specific screening method for detecting the imminent onset of PE within 4 weeks after blood sampling at 19-31 weeks.