A mid-gestation preeclampsia-screening test correctly identifies 80% of women at risk for the development of preterm preeclampsia.

Pronota’s (Ghent, Belgium) assay, which tests for five protein biomarkers such that in conjunction with blood pressure measurement offers an improvement to existing tests. Proteomics platforms of Pronota were used to identify, verify, and validate a panel of novel blood biomarkers, which are predictive of preeclampsia at the mid-gestation time point. An unbiased large-scale proteomics biomarker-discovery experiment was followed by verification of the results in 300 women who either subsequently developed preeclampsia or did not.

The predictive merit of the biomarker panel was subsequently confirmed in another study of 300 women from a different population. In this validation study, the screening test identified 80% of the women who developed preeclampsia that resulted in birth of a premature baby (preterm preeclampsia). Pronota achieved these results through a longstanding scientific collaboration with Prof. Baker from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada), Prof. North from King’s College, London (United Kingdom), and Dr. Myers from Manchester Maternal & Fetal Health Research Center (United Kingdom).

The cohort used for the study was compiled by the the SCreening fOr Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) Consortium who collected blood samples and gathered medical and lifestyle information from 5,600 women in six centers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Republic of Ireland over eight years. This controlled prospective study using high quality plasma samples and clinical data allowed for the rigorous and stepwise validation of Pronota’s test.

Dr. Jenny Myers, clinical senior lecturer, Manchester Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre (United Kingdom) will present a discussion of the Pronota-SCOPE study at the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy meeting in Geneva (Switzerland) in July 2012.

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Pronota
University of Alberta
King’s College, London