Objective To investigate the value of growth factor combined with uterine artery blood flow parameters in predicting fetal growth restriction (FGR) in the pregnancy in patients with gestational hypertension.

Methods A total of 102 women with gestational hypertension were selected and divided into study group (FGR, n=62) and control group (non-FGR, n=40) according to whether FGR occurred. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PLGF), as well as the ratio of maximum blood flow velocity during systole (S) to end-diastolic blood flow velocity (D) (S/D), resistance index (RI) and pulsation index (PI) were compared between the two groups. The related factors affecting the occurrence of FGR in patients with gestational hypertension were analyzed.

Results The levels of serum PLGF and VEGF in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of S/D, PI and RI in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Increased levels of serum PLGF and VEGF were independent protective factors for FGR in patients with hypertensive pregnancy (P < 0.05); increased S/D, PI and RI were independent risk factors for FGR in patients with hypertensive pregnancy (P < 0.05). The results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of PLGF, VEGF, S/D, PI, RI and combined prediction of FGR in patients with pre-pregnancy hypertension were 0.813, 0.881, 0.883, 0.909, 0.831 and 0.952, respectively.

Conclusion PLGF and VEGF combined with S/D, PI and RI have a good value in predicting the occurrence of FGR in hypertensive pregnancy.