Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, and which can have serious consequences for both the mother and the baby . According to information from the World Health Organization, between hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, and eclampsia stand out as the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.
In most cases this complication, which usually develops in the 20th week of pregnancy, is detected until the last trimester. Fortunately, thanks to scientific advances, preeclampsia will soon be able to be detected early through a drop of blood , according to the results of a study that we will share today.
The study
Published in the journal Nature and carried out with the collaboration of a group of researchers from various countries, the study examined the genetic material of blood samples from more than 1,800 women in order to analyze whether it is possible to predict some pregnancy complications , including which is found preeclampsia.
After analyzing the results, it was possible to identify specific molecular profiles that would help detect the risk of suffering from pre-eclampsia before they show symptoms (which, as we mentioned at the beginning, usually appear late during the last trimester of pregnancy).
According to the researchers, ” a single drop of blood could reliably identify women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia months before this disease occurs .”
It is hoped that this study can later be extended to investigate whether it may also help predict other pregnancy complications, such as the possibility of having preterm birth.
Via | Eurekalert
In Babies and more | Non-invasive test to detect pre-eclampsia early in the United States
