Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1 or sVEGFR-1) is a tyrosine kinase protein that disables proteins that cause blood vessel growth. Soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) is a splice variant of VEGF receptor 1 (Flt-1) which is produced by a variety of tissues.These proteins act as a receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic growth factor. (Another VEGF receptor is KDR).
sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 – also known as soluble VEGF receptor-1) binds and reduces free circulating levels of the proangiogenic factors VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and PlGF (placental growth factor). sFlt-1 thereby blunts the beneficial effects of these proangiogenic factors on maternal endothelium, with consequent maternal hypertension and proteinuria. Serum levels of PlGF and sFlt-1 are altered in women with preeclampsia. Moreover, circulating levels of PlGF and sFlt-1 can discriminate between a normal pregnancy and that with preeclampsia even prior to clinical presentation, and sFlt-1 and PlGF are associated with disease severity and the onset of symptoms.
In normal pregnancy, the pro-angiogenic factor PlGF increases during the first two trimesters and decreases as pregnancy progresses to term. In contrast, levels of the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt-1 remain stable during the early and middle stages of gestation and increase steadily until term. In women who develop preeclampsia, sFlt-1 levels have been found to be higher and PlGF levels have been found to be lower than in normal pregnancy.
In uncomplicated pregnancies, blood pressure changes from mid-to-late pregnancy, in particular for diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure, are inversely correlated with maternal PlGF concentrations at delivery and positively correlated with the ratio of sFlt1/PlGF. In preeclamptic pregnancies, the mean second-trimester blood pressure measurement is inversely correlated with PlGF and positively correlated with the sFlt1/PlGF ratio.2
Maternal sFlt1 has been shown to be significantly higher in incidences of severe preeclampsia, as compared with mild forms of the disease, as well as with uncomplicated pregnancies. Both balance in circulating angiogenic factor and blood pressure modulation in pregnancy may be a continuum, with the diagnosis of preeclampsia at the extreme. Most studies indicate that preeclamptic features are not unique to preeclampsia, existing in normal pregnancies as well, albeit at a lower level.2
The ratio of sFlt-1 to PlGF has been shown to be a better predictor of preeclampsia than either measure alone.
In summary, PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations measured by immunoassay in maternal blood improve the prognostic possibilities in preeclampsia which is diagnosed by clinical symptoms, proteinuria, and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.