Alere has introduced a new diagnostic tool, the Alere Triage PLGF test, as an aid to the diagnosis of early-onset preeclampsia, a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Currently, the condition is diagnosed by an increase in blood pressure and the presence of protein in urine. These signs are non-specific for pre-eclampsia and are not always present in women who develop severe complications. Instead, the measurement of placental growth factor (PlGF), a biomarker involved in placental development, provides a highly sensitive and specific indication of placental dysfunction which leads to early onset preeclampsia.
The Alere Triage PLGF test, for use with the Alere Triage MeterPro, can help clinicians diagnose early-onset pre-eclampsia by measuring the level of PlGF in a plasma sample. A low PlGF measurement alerts the clinician to the high probability of pre-eclampsia. Placental growth factor is produced by the placenta and encourages blood vessel growth. It circulates at high concentrations in normal pregnancy, with peak levels found at 32 weeks, and decreases towards full term. However, the concentration of PlGF is
significantly decreased in women with early onset pre-eclampsia.