Point-of-care glycosylated fibronectin matches sFlt-1/PlGF sensitivity for preeclampsia triage but shows lower specificity
Investigators conducted a prospective, multi-center observational study of 397 pregnant patients at 24 to 37 weeks gestation to compare point-of-care glycosylated fibronectin with the central laboratory sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for predicting indicated preterm birth due to preeclampsia within 28 days. The finger-stick assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 86.4% and a negative predictive value of 96.4%, which were numerically comparable to the reference biomarker, though the predefined noninferiority margin was not met due to wide confidence intervals. Glycosylated fibronectin exhibited significantly lower specificity at 63.3% compared with 75.4% for the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Despite the specificity trade-off, the rapid, decentralized nature of the assay offers a practical triage alternative for clinical settings where central laboratory turnaround times delay management decisions.
The original study
Glycosylated Fibronectin Compared With sFlt-1/PlGF Ratio for Preeclampsia Assessment.
- Authors
- Elbarbary N, Wang C, Ganapathy R, Ajay B, Anim-Nyame N, Green M, et al.
- Journal
- Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
- Type
- Journal Article
- PMID
- 42866866
Original abstract
BACKGROUND: The ratio of sFlt-1 (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1) to PlGF (placental growth factor) is an established biomarker for preeclampsia diagnostic triage. GlyFn (glycosylated fibronectin) measured by point-of-care testing is an alternative rapid assessment from finger-stick blood samples. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the sensitivity of GlyFn is noninferior to that of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in women with suspected preeclampsia. METHODS: This prospective observational study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of both tests for preeclampsia in high-risk participants presenting between 24+0 and 36+6 weeks of gestation at 5 hospitals from January 2024 to July 2025. Participants underwent simultaneous point-of-care GlyFn testing (Lumella) and laboratory sFlt-1/PlGF ratio measurements. The primary outcome was birth for preeclampsia within 28 days of testing. Thresholds were set at GlyFn ≥350 μg/mL and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio ≥38. The noninferiority margin was predefined at 5%. RESULTS: Among 397 participants, 59 (14.9%) had an indicated birth for preeclampsia within 28 days. GlyFn showed a sensitivity of 86.44% (95% CI, 75.02%-93.96%) compared with sFlt-1/PlGF 84.75% (95% CI, 73.01%-92.78%). Although sensitivities were numerically similar (P=0.79), the CI around the difference was too wide to establish noninferiority at the 5% margin. Negative predictive values were 96.40% and 96.59%, respectively. However, GlyFn had a lower specificity (63.31% versus 75.44%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Point-of-care GlyFn testing showed similar sensitivity and negative predictive value to the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for predicting an indicated birth for preeclampsia within 28 days. The point-of-care nature of the GlyFn test may facilitate immediate clinical decision-making in diverse healthcare settings. REGISTRATION: URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13430018; Unique identifier: ISRCTN13430018.