Placental dysfunction is implicated in many major complications of pregnancy associated
with adverse maternal and infant outcome, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction
and stillbirth. Yet, despite years of intensive research, screening for these complications is
still largely based upon clinical grounds rather than ultrasonic and/or biochemical
assessment of placental function. One of the few widely employed methods for assessment
of risk, low first trimester levels of PAPP-A (Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A), was …