Results from a new study conducted by researchers from the National Institute of Child and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health could pave the way for a blood test that could determine if a woman's risk at developing preeclampsia.

"Preeclampsia is a complication in pregnancy known and is a silent killer of expectant mothers and their infants," Roberto Romero, MD. Chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of the NIH told Medical Device Daily.

According to the Preeclampsia Foundation (Minneapolis) preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5%-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms. They may also suffer catastrophic complications such as liver rupture.

Typically, preeclampsia occurs after 20 weeks gestation (in the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters or middle to late pregnancy), though it can occur earlier. Proper prenatal care is essential to diagnose and manage preeclampsia. Preeclampsia, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) and toxemia are closely related conditions. HELLP Syndrome and eclampsia are other manifestations of the same syndrome. It is important to note that research shows that more women die from preeclampsia than eclampsia and one is not necessarily more serious than the other.

"Left untreated, preeclampsia leads to serious – or fatal – complications for both the mother and baby," says Kusanovic MD, of the Perinatology Research Branch of the NIH and Wayne State University/Hutzel Women's Hospital (Detroit) and lead author of the study.

The findings of this new study, which evaluated 1,600 women throughout their pregnancies was published in the November issue of the Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine.

"Our study found that maternal plasma concentrations (of angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors) together with a combination of other demographic, biochemical and biophysical factors are useful in assigning risk for the subsequent development of early-onset preeclampsia," Romero said.

"So what this means is we now have some blood tests that are simple and that can be used in any hospital to test for preeclampsia," he added. "Once the test is available these women who are at risk can be monitored more closely."

Plans call for another study to replicate Romero's findings on a larger scale.

Currently the World Health Organization, in collaboration with the Perinatal Research Branch of the NICHD, is presently analyzing samples collected in more than 10,000 pregnancies in eight countries around the world to further validate the results obtained Romero's scientific team.

There are plans to then garner FDA approval for such a test and get it into the clinical setting. Mario Merialdi MD, Coordinator for Improving Maternal and Perinatal Health at the World WHO said in a release that the results of the study conducted by the international team led by Romero have important implications for clinical practice and public health policies. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the major causes of maternal and fetal mortality worldwide."

Preeclampsia is the leading cause of infant death and the second leading cause of maternal death Around the world. Conservative estimates of the condition seem to indicate that preeclampsia is responsible for some 76,000 maternal deaths and more than 500,000 infant deaths every year, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Early onset preeclampsia is the most dangerous form of this disease.

Omar Ford, 404-262-5546;
omar.ford@ahcmedia.com