New Lab Test May Diagnose Preeclampsia

Did you know that as many as 8 percent of pregnant women around the globe suffer from preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is a threatening medical condition which involves several health complications, among these premature delivery and death for the mother and/or the fetus if left untreated.

Researchers from Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital have recently developed a lab test that could possibly predict preeclampsia as early as 12-14 weeks into the pregnancy. This is great news in the scientific world, as preeclampsia has long been both an untreatable and unpredictable condition.

‘“Our model is the first pregnancy-specific animal model,” said Surendra Sharma, professor of pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a research scientist at Women & Infants, “and our predictive assay is the first one where we can go back to the first trimester and predict problems.’

A patent has been filed for application and is awaiting approval. Plans include further refinement of the test into a clinical model through the aid of the FDA. In time, pregnant women may be tested for preeclampsia before any appearance of symptoms.


Photo from sxc.hu

SOURCES:

• “Researchers report two advances against preeclampsia,” news.brown.edu
• “New Test May Be Able To Predict Preeclampsia,” growingyourbaby.com