We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Events

09 Apr 2024 - 12 Apr 2024
15 Apr 2024 - 17 Apr 2024
23 Apr 2024 - 26 Apr 2024

New Approach Improves Identification of Women at High Risk of Preeclampsia

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 May 2016
Print article
A new meta-analysis examining 92 cohort studies involving over 25 million pregnancies has provided an unprecedented understanding of risk factors for preeclampsia—some risk factors being strong enough to warrant that a pregnant woman starts on prophylactic treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) when she has only one.

Researchers led by Dr. Joel Ray of St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) have developed a new tool that can improve how clinicians identify women at high risk of developing preeclampsia, and who should take ASA (i.e., aspirin). Clinical practice guidelines recommend that women at high risk take ASA daily at low-dose (“baby aspirin”) starting at 12–20 weeks of pregnancy.

The new meta-analysis identified several risk factors that alone, or in combination, provide a clear, concise, evidence-based approach to identifying these women based on routinely collected clinical information. Also importantly, even though ASA is safe in pregnancy, the tool helps distinguish women who are unlikely to benefit from ASA therapy.

Preeclampsia affects approximately 3% of women, and is characterized by onset of elevated blood pressure in later pregnancy. It can cause a woman to seize or have a stroke or kidney failure, and can put fetuses at risk of premature birth and poor growth.

The new study started with the idea that a woman at a 7%–10% or higher chance of developing preeclampsia is a candidate for preventive therapy with ASA. The researchers examined large cohort studies (over 1,000 women each) and pooled the results to determine which individual risk factors pass that threshold.

Some risk factors identified are strong enough that a woman should likely be started on ASA when she has only one factor. These include having had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, or diabetes or chronic hypertension prior to the current pregnancy. For example, having chronic hypertension alone produces an absolute risk of 16% of developing preelampsia, compared to a risk of 3% in the absence of chronic hypertension or other risk factors.

However, some risk factors are not strong enough on their own, so a woman would need to have 2 or3 to warrant ASA treatment. For example, a woman who has chronic kidney disease has about a 6% of developing preeclampsia, probably not high enough alone. Among the list requiring 2 or more risk factors are a prior stillbirth or separation of the placenta from the uterus wall, or in the current pregnancy: recognized chronic kidney disease, twins or triplets, lupus, first-time pregnancy, or age > 40 years.

"We can now identify the most influential clinical factors for preeclampsia, none of which require special testing, and all are currently collected by a midwife, obstetrician, family doctor, or nurse practitioner at a woman's routine pregnancy visit," said Dr. Ray, "While ASA may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, we really want to ensure that only a woman truly at high risk goes on ASA, while making it very easy for any clinician to identify that person."

The study was published April 19, 2016, in the journal BMJ.

Related Links:
St. Michael’s Hospital

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.