29 May Study Finds Majority of Preeclampsias Can Be Detected in First Trimester
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Bujold
Emmanuel Bujold, Reproduction
Mother and Child Health Unit
CHU De Québec-Université Laval Research Center
Université Laval
Québec, QC Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe what is meant by preeclampsia?
Response: Preeclampsia is a complication of the second half of pregnancy, manifesting as high blood pressure and renal dysfunction. The only current treatment is to deliver the baby before it becomes complicated by damage to maternal organs or fetal distress.
A few years ago, we demonstrated that aspirin started in the 1st trimester can prevent the majority of preeclampsias in pregnant women at risk. It has therefore become urgent to identify pregnant women at risk as early as the 1st trimester.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: We have observed that the majority of preeclampsias, and especially those that will be severe, can be detected in the 1st trimester of pregnancy by combining physical (blood pressure, BMI, etc.), ultrasound (Doppler) and blood markers.
MedicalResearch.com: How difficult is the screening process to implement?
Response: While this may seem difficult, similar screening for fetal aneuploidies (combining biophysical, ultrasound and blood markers) exists in several countries and is relatively well established. It’s just a question of using the infrastructures already in place and adding preeclampsia screening, or replicating this formula to obtain full screening (aneuploidies and preeclampsia) in a single visit.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?
Response: Future research must be translational. In other words, we need to assess the impact of comprehensive screening in a population in order to identify the various barriers and propose solutions to be cost-effective and efficient.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: I have no conflict of interest to disclose. I hope that a joint effort will be made to enable as many pregnant women as possible to benefit from this screening, which has the potential to improve the health of both mothers and children.
Citation:
Prospective Validation of First-Trimester Screening for Preterm Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women (PREDICTION Study)
Paul Guerby, Francois Audibert, Jo-Ann Johnson, Nanette Okun, Yves Giguère, Jean-Claude Forest, Nils Chaillet, Benoit Mâsse, David Wright, Louise Ghesquiere, Emmanuel Bujold
6 May 2024https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.22584
Hypertension. 2024;0
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Last Updated on May 29, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD