Research Roundup: August 2010
Last month, a team from the University of Alberta reported in the journal Hypertension on a method to determine that a woman is at high risk of developing preeclampsia. While this method may or may not be developed into a screening test in the future, it confirmed that changes in the metabolism and the vasculature of women who go on to develop preeclampsia can be detected at 15 weeks gestation.
Two Preeclampsia Foundation members were involved in media coverage on the topic and we are very grateful to them for bringing a human face to the stories about preeclampsia. Because of the press conference and media efforts of the University, a lot of lay press picked up the story and we are fortunate that the Foundation was mentioned in several of those stories. The research findings while seemingly exciting to a lay public are far from commercial realization and would need more validation for most governmental oversight bodies (e.g., FDA). Our message of "cautious optimism" is a responsible middle ground at this early juncture. Read more here.
Also, a new study into changes in maternal weight between pregnancies was published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology by a team from the University of St. Louis Medical Center. It confirmed that women who lose weight after a preeclamptic pregnancy have a lower risk of preeclampsia in later pregnancies than women who maintain their weight or who gain weight. Losing weight may change the uterine environment and help encourage normal placental development. A link to the abstract and discussion among forum participants may be found here.
The National Institutes of Health announced that research shows taking vitamin C and E supplements early in pregnancy does not reduce the risk for hypertensive disorders and other complications during pregnancy.
An Irish study to be published in an upcoming issue of Hypertension shows that metabolites found in women's blood early in pregnancy may be able to serve as accurate predictors of preeclampsia. This is a significant breakthrough, as biomarkers for preeclampsia have not previously been very precise. Further studies on the topic are planned.
Related Articles
Your story is needed to improve outcomes for moms like you. Add your voice to critical preeclampsia research to ensure that every story is heard.
Frequently asked questions about the Preeclampsia Registry, a patient-driven registry and biobank.
The Preeclampsia Foundation offers research funding, study recruitment, and other patient engagement services to researchers.
We provide research grant funding to advance progress towards detection, prevention, or treatment of preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
While the foundations of preeclampsia are believed to develop in the early stages of pregnancy, the current screening process occurs at 20 weeks, nearly half way through the second trimester. When cli...
Research suggests that preeclampsia may develop in a two-stage process. The first stage involves challenges to the way that the placenta implants and grows. In a normal pregnancy, a type of placental...
The risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly increases for patients who experience gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or other hypertensive disorders of preg...
Cerebral complications from preeclampsia and eclampsia are a major cause of maternal mortality and long-term neurological impact. Understanding pathophysiology (changes in how the body works as a resu...
The Preeclampsia Foundation is seeking Letters of Intent for the Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants funding program, designed to accelerate preeclampsia research. The ultimate goal of this grant prog...