Placental Growth Factor as a Brain Disease Biomarker: A Scoping Review
Andre Lapeyre Rivera1, Hamilet Huaccho1, MIRIAN CASTAÑEDA1, Luis Mascco Huamani1, David Botello1, Diego Huaranga1, Niels Pacheco2, Olivier Uwishema3
1Sociedad Científica de San Fernando, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú, 2Harvard Medical School, 3Oli Health Magazine Organization(OHMO)
Objective:
 To summarize current evidence on the potential of Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) as a biomarker for brain diseases.
Background:

Brain diseases represent a significant global health burden. Traditional diagnostic tools, such as neuroimaging and cognitive tests, are often costly and time-consuming. Emerging biomarkers like the Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) may provide a faster, more cost-effective alternative for diagnosing brain diseases.


Design/Methods:
A comprehensive scoping review was conducted, including observational studies, cross-sectional studies, and randomized controlled trials. Studies were selected based on their examination of PlGF levels in neurological diseases, following PRISMA guidelines. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, participant demographics, and PlGF levels.
Results:

Eighteen studies involving 6,866 patients (54% female) were included, with most conducted in high-income countries. Study designs included cross-sectional (5), observational cohort (7), clinical trials (2), secondary analysis of cohorts (2), and longitudinal cohorts (1). Eleven studies found elevated PlGF levels associated with cognitive decline—four for vascular cognitive impairment, nine for Alzheimer’s disease, and one for frontotemporal dementia. One study focused on traumatic brain injury. Two studies reported diagnostic metrics, with AUC values for PlGF ranging from 0.66 (white matter hyperintensity) to 0.996 (frontotemporal dementia vs. control). Vascular cognitive impairment showed moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.74–0.89). Only one study reported sensitivity and specificity, with 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity for distinguishing frontotemporal dementia from controls. Additionally, one study reported an odds ratio of 8.31 [6.77–10.1] for the association between PlGF and vascular dementia.


Conclusions:
PlGF shows promise as a biomarker for cognitive impairment and traumatic brain injury. However, further research using standardized protocols, robust statistical methods, and larger, more diverse populations is needed to validate its clinical utility and ensure widespread adoption in neurodiagnostic practices.
10.1212/WNL.0000000000212575
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.