Supporting your immunoassay portfolio expansion

Biomaterials for PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) Immunoassay development & manufacturing 

The determination of circulating levels of Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), alongside with other medical parameters is a key aid in the diagnosis of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that affects 10% of women_¹. PlGF is primarily expressed in the placenta, but it can also be found in low levels in other tissues such as the heart, lung, thyroid, bone, liver, and skeletal muscle. PlGF is a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family (VEGF) and has four different isoforms (PlGF1 to PlGF4), with PlGF1 and PlGF2 being the most abundant forms_². Its key role is to promote angiogenesis in the placenta, contributing to the development and maturation of the vascular system. In other tissues, PlGF promotes angiogenesis in response to pathological ischaemia or injury_². 

In clinical laboratory settings, measuring the circulating levels of PlGF is crucial in diagnosing preeclampsia, along with other medical parameters. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage, and it can occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is responsible for 10-15% of maternal deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)³. 

PlGF levels are significantly lower in women with preeclampsia than in those with normal pregnancies or gestational hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy without signs of organ damage)_². Therefore, measuring the circulating levels of PlGF alongside with other parameters can be an essential aid in the diagnosis of preeclampsia.  

How Werfen can support you  

We can support your immunoassay portfolio expansion in the fertility panel by providing antibodies for the development and manufacturing of immunoassays to determine Placental Growth Factor (PlGF).  

Werfen PlGF biomaterials portfolio consist of the following products:  

_{Contact us for further information on product availability and development stage} 

_{[1] World Health Organitzation (WHO). WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.2011}

_{[2] Chau K et al. Placental Growth Factor and pre-eclampsia. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2017}

_{[3] World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Maternal Mortality. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.}