New test detects early pregnancy complications

A NEW urine test could provide an early warning of a common and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication, it was revealed yesterday.

Scientists found low levels of a protein that promotes the growth of blood vessels in women at risk of pre-eclampsia.

A study has indicated that the test could predict the condition up to two months before the onset of symptoms.

Pre-eclampsia, the most common serious complication of pregnancy, is caused by a defect in the placenta.

It typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and is characterised by high blood pressure.

In severe cases it can escalate without warning to eclampsia, producing a massive rise in blood pressure which can be fatal.

Pre-eclampsia is symptomless in its early stages and at present detectable only by regular checks on the mother’s blood pressure and urine.

The condition affects about one-in-10 pregnancies and is responsible for the deaths of between three and five women a year in Britain. It is also responsible for the deaths of 500 to 600 babies per year.

In 2003, an American study led by Dr Ananth Karumanchi, from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, indicated pre-eclampsia was caused by an imbalance of proteins that help small blood vessels to grow.

Dr Karumanchi’s latest research, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggests one of the growth factor proteins could provide a reliable early warning of pre-eclampsia.

“Diagnosing this condition earlier could help women with pre-eclampsia avoid major complications,” he said.

“A simple urine test could help predict the onset of this disease one to two months before the onset of clinical symptoms and that could make a tremendous difference in outcomes for patients, in particular those women who have limited access to specialised medical care.”