According to Dr. Stefan Verlohren from the Medical University of Berlin—the Charité -- Universitätsmedizin Berlin—and his colleagues, who examined 630 pregnant women, found that 164 of them suffered from high blood pressure, also known as preeclampsia. The research, carried out in collaboration with Universitätsklinik Leipzig and five other European research centers, found that a blood test to detect preeclampsia by measuring the amounts of two placenta-derived growth factors—sFlt-1 and PIGF—could also predict the due date, helping doctors to preempt complications for both mother and child. An article on their study appeared in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
In examining levels of two Dr. Verlohren and his team discovered that above certain levels, the presence of these two growth factors predicted a shortened duration of pregnancy. Importantly, the study pinpointed that above exceedingly high levels of sFlt-1 and PIGF, women would deliver their babies within 48 hours. The test thus allows doctors to assess the severity of the preeclampsia condition and to calculate a short-term prognosis for the course of the pregnancy. In the future, Dr. Verlohren says that more studies should be developed for women who have an elevated risk factor for developing high blood pressure during pregnancy so that the validity of the test can be further measured.
Preeclampsia is the most common of dangerous pregnancy complications and is characterized by high blood pressure, high than normal protein levels in urine, and fluid retention beneath the skin, factors that left untreated can build into a life threatening condition called eclampsia. Eclampsia affects approximately 1 out of every 2,000 to 3,000 pregnancies and, according to the National Institute of Health is dangerous to both mother and child.
The most common risk factors for preeclampsia
- Patient is age 35 or older
- Patient is of African American descent
- Patient is in her first pregnancy
- Patient’s family medical history includes diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney (renal) disease
- Patient is pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets, etc.)
- Patient is a teenager.
The most common symptoms of preeclampsia According to the National Institute of Health, the most common symptoms of preeclampsia are:
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal blood test results
- Excessive or rapid weight gain (two or more pounds per week)
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Changes in vision
- Swelling in hands and face.
If preeclampsia is suspected, in addition to a physical exam and monitoring of blood pressure and breathing rate, your doctor or health care provider may do further blood and urine tests to measure:
- Blood clotting factors
- Creatinine
- Hematocrit
- Uric acid Liver function
- Platelet count
- Protein in the urine.
The most common symptoms if preeclampsia becomes eclampsia
- Muscle aches and pain
- Seizures
- Severe agitation
- Unconsciousness.
While untreated eclampsia can result in possible maternal and/or infant death, it is very rare, according to the National Institute of Health, for a woman in the United States to die from eclampsia. In the case of both preeclampsia and eclampsia, there is a higher risk for separation of the placenta (placenta abruptio) and complications for the baby from early delivery.
Health goals in preeclampsia and eclampsia
The goal of health care providers is to prevent preeclampsia from evolving into eclampsia by closely monitoring the mother’s condition and managing her symptoms. In cases in which preeclampsia does evolve into eclampsia, medicine to lower the blood pressure can be prescribed and, in the case of seizures, anti-convulsant medicine that is safe for both mother and baby may be prescribed to prevent seizures. If the blood pressure medicine is ineffective, sometimes the mother will have to deliver early. The goal is to continue to monitor and manage the mother’s symptoms until the thirty-six or thirty-seven week mark for mild cases, and until the thirty-two to thirty-four week mark in severe cases, thereby reducing complications to both mother and baby from premature delivery.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Gabi Samuel - Gabi Samuel is an author who writes in the fields of psychology spirituality, technology and science.
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