Angiogenic factors vs Doppler surveillance in the prediction of adverse outcome among late‐pregnancy small‐for‐ gestational‐age fetuses

ABSTRACT Objectives To compare the value of Doppler surveillance with maternal blood angiogenic factors at diagnosis for the prediction of adverse outcome in late‐pregnancy small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetuses. Methods In a cohort of 198 SGA fetuses we evaluated the association of Doppler indices (mean uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA‐PI) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR)) and angiogenic factors (maternal serum levels of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFlt‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF)) with the development of pre‐eclampsia and adverse perinatal outcome (operative delivery for non‐reassuring fetal status or neonatal metabolic acidosis). Results In SGA fetuses subsequently developing pre‐eclampsia, mean UtA‐PI (P