Biomarker to Predict Preeclampsia in Sickle Cell Pregnancies: A Diagnostic Breakthrough

Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) accurately predicts preeclampsia in pregnancies complicated by sickle cell disease, offering a potential shift in prenatal risk stratification.

A new report from the American Society of Hematology describes diagnostic thresholds and clinical implications that could enable targeted surveillance and earlier intervention for this high‑risk group.

The study reports 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for PlGF in predicting both early‑ and late‑onset preeclampsia in this cohort; at 20–24 weeks the investigators report a PlGF cut‑off of 87 pg/mL for early‑onset and 832 pg/mL for late‑onset disease, each achieving the reported 100% sensitivity and specificity. The authors note that, despite concerns that baseline PlGF production in people with sickle cell disease might obscure diagnostic signal, these thresholds appeared consistent with non‑SCD patients. However, the authors call for external validation in larger, multi‑center cohorts to confirm generalizability.

That diagnostic accuracy would enable earlier risk stratification and tailored surveillance in a population with elevated baseline maternal risk. Together, PlGF measurement at 20–24 weeks could inform a more intensive monitoring cadence (for example, weekly or biweekly blood‑pressure checks), lower referral thresholds to maternal–fetal medicine, and earlier consideration of prophylactic measures such as low‑dose aspirin where clinically appropriate. Clinically, biomarker‑driven identification of high‑risk pregnancies may reduce unexpected hypertensive crises by enabling preemptive management and timely referral.