Hope for women with preeclampsia?

Our Review Summary

The story discusses new findings in the early detection of pre-eclampsia and mentions that this may lead to new drug treatments for this pregnancy-related condition. The new findings will likely lead to a blood test for certain proteins as early markers of pre-eclampsia. The story mentions that this early screening for pre-eclampsia may be available in a few months. The story does not mention the estimated cost of the new test.

The story mentions that the only treatment for severe pre-eclampsia is delivery of the baby no matter what the gestational age. This is typically the case, but it may not be the only treatment, depending on the severity of pre-eclampsia. Sometimes, if a woman is far from term her blood pressure may be controlled by medication and she and her unborn baby may be monitored in the hospital. Additionally, true pre-eclampsia also involves changes in kidney function, that is, more protein in the urine, so high blood pressure in pregnancy does not always result in pre-eclampsia. The story does provide prevalence data of pre-eclampsia and related premature births; however, the story only uses one woman’s story of a worst case scenario. Many women who develop pre-eclampsia during pregnancy are near term and deliver healthy babies, though some are premature.

The story claims that the new findings would “greatly reduce one of the most feared complications of pregnancy”. We do not yet know if having this test will be able to prevent the changes of pre-eclampsia or reduce premature births. Current medications and treatments would still be used even if the onset of pre-eclampsia could be predicted and treated earlier in pregnancy. There is no quantification of the benefit of this test for pre-eclampsia. It may very well lead to early detection and treatment of dangerously high blood pressure in pregnancy, but discussion of new drugs is speculative at this time. Earlier treatment with existing blood pressure medications may harm the development of the fetus. Newer drugs might help the mother, but deprive the fetus of blood.

The story does not emphasize that the treatment of pre-eclampsia is a constant weighing of the benefits for the mother (i.e. prevention of eclampsia and the effects of high-blood pressure on the kidneys) against the health and development of the fetus. Lastly, the condition may “end right after pregnancy”, but women who develop pre-eclampsia are at greater risk of developing the condition in a subsequent pregnancy, and they are at greater risk of high blood pressure and related heart disease later in life.