The placenta is an important organ that maintains the growth and development of the fetus, and is the window for the fetus to communicate with the mother. It plays a very important role in maternal pregnancy: gas exchange, nutrient supply, fetal metabolite discharge and other material exchange functions; defense against bacteria, pathogens and drugs; human chorionic gonadotropin, human placental lactogen, Synthetic functions such as estrogen, cytokines and growth factors; immune functions such as the maternal body to accommodate and not reject the fetus; the storage function of nutrients; exercise the metabolic functions of the digestive tract, lungs, kidneys, liver and endocrine glands, etc.

Defects of placenta formation can lead to placental dysplasia and placental dysfunction, which makes it difficult to provide sufficient nutrients and oxygen to the fetus, resulting in fetal hypoxia and malnutrition, leading to a series of symptoms:miscarriage, high blood pressure during pregnancy, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and premature delivery, etc.In severe cases, it can cause related complications: stillbirth, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome and placental abruption. The current methods of placental function assessment: ultrasonography, umbilical artery Doppler examination, etc. are not the best diagnostic signs of placental insufficiency. Therefore, it is necessary to find better detection indicators for clinical application.

Placental growth factor (PLGF) is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family. It has a unique regulatory effect on the functions of trophoblast cells and endothelial cells, significantly improves its biological activity, promotes the development of placental blood vessels, maintains the normal blood supply and function of the placenta during pregnancy, and adapts it to the needs of maternal and fetal development.

In the process of uterine spiral artery remodeling, syncytiotrophoblast cells secrete placental growth factor to promote angiogenesis and improve blood perfusion. During normal pregnancy, the PLGF level changes with a peak shape as the pregnancy progresses: the placental circulation is not fully established in the first trimester, the placenta is in a relatively hypoxic state, and the PLGF level is low; the expression of PLGF increases rapidly at 15-26 weeks; it reaches a peak around 30 weeks of pregnancy After the PLGF level reaches its peak, the placenta gradually matures and ages, and the PLGF level also decreases significantly.

Studies have shown that PLGF is a highly specific marker during pregnancy. The level of PLGF can be used to assess placental function: when PLGF≥100pg/ml, it indicates normal placental function; when PLGF<100pg/ml; it indicates placental insufficiency and need to support placenta Perfusion therapy; when PLGF<12pg/ml, it indicates severe placental insufficiency and strongly predicts premature delivery within 14 days.

When the placental dysfunction is indicated, the PLGF level rises after clinical intervention treatment, indicating that the placental function has been improved.The placental function can be assessed through the change of PLGF level, and the mother and baby can be closely monitored in time, and timely delivery can reduce the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.