The sFlt-1/PlGF ratio is an established tool in clinical practice, where it is part of a diagnostic algorithm and informs the prognosis of preeclampsia (PE). Maternal and gestational comorbidities can affect the performance of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio and its constituent elements, and a good understanding of the potential pitfalls is required. The objective of this paper was to provide a current narrative review of the literature on the diagnostic and predictive performance of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in specific patient cohorts. Potential factors which can negatively affect the clinical interpretability and applicability of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio include chronic kidney disease, twin pregnancy, and maternal obesity. Pathophysiological mechanisms related to these factors and disorders can result in different concentrations of sFlt-1 and/or PlGF in maternal blood, meaning that the use of standard cut-off values in specific cohorts can lead to errors. To what extent the cut-off values should be adapted in certain patient cohorts can only be clarified in large prospective cohort studies. This applies to the use of the ratio both for diagnosis and prognosis.

Purpose To describe the perinatal outcome of a prospective cohort of late-onset small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses and to test adverse perinatal outcome (APO) prediction using Doppler measurements. Methods Singleton pregnancies from 32 weeks with suspicion of SGA (followed-up each 2 weeks) and randomly selected healthy controls at a university hospital were included. The whole SGA group was divided into the FGR subgroup or SGA percentile 3–10 subgroup. The following Doppler measurements were evaluated prospectively: umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI), middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI, cerebro-placental ratio (CPR), and mean uterine artery (mUtA) PI. APO was defined as arterial cord blood pH ≤ 7.15 and/or 5-minute Apgar ≤ 7 and/or emergency operative delivery and/or admission to the neonatal unit. Induction of labor was indicated according to a stage-based protocol. Results A total of 149 SGA and 143 control fetuses were included. The number of operative deliveries was similar between both groups (control: 29 %, SGA: 28 %), especially the cesarean delivery rate after the onset of labor (11 % vs. 10 %). Most SGA cases ended up in induction of labor (61 % vs. 31 %, p < 0.001). The areas under the curve (AUC) for APO prediction were similar using the last UA PI, MCA PI, CPR, and mUtA PI and barely reached 0.60. The AUC was best for the FGR subgroup, using the minimal CPR or maximum mUtA PI z-score of all longitudinal measurements (AUC = 0.63). Conclusion SGA fetuses do not have a higher rate of operative delivery if managed according to a risk stratification protocol. Prediction of APO is best for SGA and FGR using the “worst” CPR or mUtA PI but it remains moderate.

Purpose To evaluate pre- and post-procedure myocardial function in monochorionic twins with TTTS who underwent laser ablation of placental anastomoses using pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (pw TDI). Materials and Methods 20 monochorionic twin gestations with TTTS were included and underwent laser ablation at our center between 2011 and 2014. Prior to and after the intervention, cardiac function was assessed by measuring the mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), Tei index, isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) for the left ventricle in pulsed wave Doppler (pw D) ultrasound as well as ICT, ET, IRT and Tei index in pw TDI for the left and right ventricle. E-, A-, E´- and A´-wave peak velocity and the systolic downward motion (S´) were measured for both ventricles and the E/A, E/E´ and E´/A´ ratios were calculated. In a mean of 1.3 (SD 0.6) days after laser ablation, this measurement protocol was repeated. Results Pre-intervention recipients had longer ICT, ET and IRT in pw D and pw TDI compared to donors not reaching statistical significance for most parameters. Statistically significant were prolonged ICT in pw D (p 0.01) and ET (p 0.01) in pw TDI in recipients. In donor fetuses preoperative myocardial function did not differ significantly from postoperative myocardial function except in increased left ventricular ejection time of the left ventricle in pw TDI (p 0.04) and an increased E´/A´ratio (p 0.01). After laser coagulation, myocardial function was slightly altered in recipients as ICT and IRT shortened and Tei indices decreased but only reaching statistical significance in shortened IRTs in pw TDI for both ventricles. Conclusion Laser ablation of placental anastomoses in TTTS might influence myocardial function in the postoperative period. Shortened IRT intervals may reflect an improvement of diastolic function in recipients.