Biomarkers present in the urine may indicate the risk of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. They could become tools for screening.
- Pre-eclampsia is one of the three leading causes of death for pregnant women worldwide.
- In France, 40,000 women are affected each year, according to Inserm. About 20 die.
Pre-eclampsia is a common condition during pregnancy, and it can be dangerous. “Responsible for a third of the births of very premature in France, this syndrome is a major cause of intrauterine growth retardation“, precise Inserm. It can also lead to the death of the mother, especially in developing countries where pregnant women do not always have access to health services. Around the world, researchers are working to find ways to detect pre-eclampsia early enough to better care for pregnant women. In the review patternsa team from the Stanford School of Medicine (United States) presents promising results.
Early screening to limit the risks for mother and child
Pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure at the end of pregnancy, it is usually diagnosed from the middle of gestation. “The advantage of detecting pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy is that we could follow mothers more closely to detect early symptoms.“, specifies the co-lead author of the study, Ivana Marić. This would prevent premature births and reduce the risk of death of the mother.
How to detect pre-eclampsia during pregnancy?
The Stanford research team collected biological samples from 49 pregnant women, who may or may not have developed pre-eclampsia. They were collected at different stages of pregnancy: early, middle and late. At the same time, they also collected blood samples and vaginal swabs. Thanks to detailed analyses, the scientists spotted the biological signals of the syndrome, which they then tested with artificial intelligence. “We found that a urine test performed early in pregnancy has significant statistical power to predict pre-eclampsia.”, observes Nima Aghaeepour, co-author of this study. Urinary metabolites, combined with simple health information such as height, body mass index, pre-pregnancy blood pressure, provided a particularly reliable predictive tool. “This data collection is part of the routine and could serve as a first level of triage, he continues. Patients with data showing they are at risk could take the more comprehensive urine test.”
A universal test for “the most vulnerable mothers in the world”
The study authors are now working on validating their screening technique, with larger and more varied groups of pregnant women. Eventually, they hope to develop universal tests, available to all pregnant women. “Learning more about how pre-eclampsia develops and how to predict it could hold real benefits for the world’s most vulnerable mothers.”, they said. They point out that approximately 86% of maternal deaths worldwide occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.