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

SIGMA ALDRICH CORP.

Sigma-Aldrich is a life science and high technology company that develops, manufactures, purchases, and distributes v... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Events

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

Preeclampsia Biomarker Detected Very Early In Pregnancy

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 Jul 2014
Print article
Image: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit (ELISA) specific for human copeptin (Photo courtesy of USCN Life Science).
Image: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent kit (ELISA) specific for human copeptin (Photo courtesy of USCN Life Science).
A biomarker has been discovered that could give expecting mothers and their doctors the first simple blood test to reliably predict that a pregnant woman may develop preeclampsia, at least as early as six weeks into the pregnancy.

Preeclampsia, a cardiovascular disorder of late pregnancy, is characterized as a low-renin hypertensive state relative to normotensive pregnancy, and other non-pregnant low-renin hypertensive disorders often exhibit and are occasionally dependent on elevated arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion.

Scientists at the University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA, USA) measured copeptin levels throughout pregnancy in maternal plasma from preeclamptic and control women. A total of 54 control pregnant, non-preeclamptic women, 50 pregnant, preeclampsia women, and 33 non-pregnant women were included in the study. Maternal plasma copeptin is an inert, stable biomarker of vasopressin secretion with a substantially longer half-life in the blood than vasopressin.

All maternal plasma copeptin concentrations were measured in duplicate using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for human copeptin (USCN Life Science, Inc.; Houston, TX, USA). The minimum detectible dose of human copeptin for this assay was 5.4 pg/mL. To examine if renal function or AVP degradation throughout pregnancy affected copeptin concentration, plasma Cystatin C (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and USCN Life Science’s vasopressinase were measured in duplicate in all samples utilizing commercial ELISA kits.

Maternal plasma copeptin concentration is significantly higher in pregnant women who developed preeclampsia in comparison with control, non-preeclamptic women in the first, second, and third trimesters. In addition, the trimester-specific copeptin concentrations in preeclamptic women are higher than the plasma copeptin concentration of non-pregnant women. The authors concluded that measurement of AVP release in the first few weeks of pregnancy holds great promise as a novel diagnostic tool to predict the development of preeclampsia, and the inhibition of AVP release or action may represent a novel and rational therapeutic approach in preventing and treating preeclampsia.

Justin L. Grobe, PhD, the senior author of the study, said, “We've broken the circle of 'no test, no model, no cure' which has plagued the preeclampsia field for centuries. Suddenly we have identified a hormone that is elevated well ahead of the disorder, and have demonstrated that this hormone can cause the symptoms. It is only a matter of time before we can therapeutically target this system as a preventative or curative intervention.” The study was published on July 7, 2014, in the journal Hypertension.

Related Links:

University of Iowa
USCN Life Science
Sigma- Aldrich

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
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.