Metropolis Healthcare has launched sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, a new tool for the diagnosis of preeclampsia by discriminating between preeclamptic pregnancies and other forms of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. 

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it has been conceptualized as a simple blood test to deliver clear, reliable results with a specificity of 95 per cent and a sensitivity of 82 per cent to help identify patients at risk for potentially life threatening complications. 

It is believed that preeclampsia may be caused by an imbalance of angiogenic factors. It has been demonstrated that high serum levels of sFlt-1, an anti-angiogenic protein (inhibits growth of new blood vessels) and low levels of PlGF, a pro-angiogenic protein (promotes growth of new blood vessels) predict subsequent development of preeclampsia.

Indians have been aware of preeclampsia over several decades. The need for developing high-accuracy diagnostic pathways have prompted doctors to start monitoring blood pressure from early pregnancy periods to ensure the close monitoring of high-risk pregnancies.