Predicting Preeclampsia Risk with Placental Proteins
Preeclampsia is a life-threatening blood pressure disorder that can occur during pregnancy. It is the most common hypertensive disorder associated with pregnancy, and in a severe case can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, organ failure, sight loss, or even a stroke. Preeclampsia affects approximately 5% of all pregnant women and is considered a leading cause of maternal and fetal death.
In recent years, hypertensive disorders have been increasing in the US. This is mainly due to the prevalence of obesity and chronic hypertension, which are recorded to disproportionately affect black women.
Currently, the only effective means of innervation for preeclampsia is immediate delivery. Whilst immediate delivery to initiate recovery benefits the mother, premature birth presents a significant risk of short-and long-term complications for babies.
Investigators from Cedars-Sinai discovered a specific imbalance of two placental proteins that could indicate the development risk of severe preeclampsia.
However, a new study by Cedars-Sinai could help identify those expectant mothers most at risk of developing the condition. In a study of pregnant women in the United States, investigators from Cedars-Sinai discovered a specific imbalance of two placental proteins that could indicate the development risk of severe preeclampsia. The proteins found were soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PIGF) in the bloodstream.
Published in the journal NEJM Evidence, the multicentre study involved a blind analysis of 1014 women who had initially been hospitalised for preterm hypertension from 18 different hospitals. It is one of the most extensive investigations to date to test the risk factors of a more racially diverse cohort of patients.
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Sarah Kilpatrick, the study co-senior author and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Cedars-Sinai, described the blood test as being “significantly better than all the standard-of-care markers for preeclampsia with severe features. It predicted with over 90% accuracy whether the patient would develop preeclampsia with severe features or not, while the usual markers were accurate less than 75% of the time.”
Results showed an increased risk of severe preeclampsia when the critical ratio between the two placental proteins was below 40. Researchers hope that the biomarker blood test will improve mothers' and babies' health outcomes.
Having access to an accurate predictive test will indicate an optimal time for early delivery and ensure that the right hospital and health management team will be there to provide support for both the mother and preterm baby.
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