BELGIUM — In a groundbreaking stride towards improving maternal and fetal health, Belgian researchers have unveiled a liquid biopsy method designed to predict the occurrence of preeclampsia, a life-threatening pregnancy complication.
Affecting approximately 5% of pregnancies, preeclampsia poses significant risks to both mother and child, making its early detection and management pivotal.
Preeclampsia, a formidable adversary in the realm of pregnancy, can cast a shadow over maternal and fetal well-being.
“This is one of the causes of maternal death in developed countries,” cautions Juan León Luis, an expert in maternal and fetal medicine.
Known risk factors for this condition include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and kidney disease.
To unlock the mysteries behind this complex syndrome, Belgian researchers from the University of KU Leuven have pioneered a liquid biopsy approach.
By scrutinizing DNA methylation levels in the blood, this innovative technique aims to identify pregnancies at risk of developing preeclampsia at its nascent stages.
Juan León Luis notes that this advancement not only holds the promise of refining clinical practice but also offers insights into genetic changes within the placenta.
Bernard Tienpont’s research team demonstrates the utility of DNA methylation blood testing in enhancing the early prediction of preeclampsia risk, potentially revolutionizing prenatal care strategies.
The crucial role of early detection
León underscores the criticality of identifying preeclampsia signs promptly to administer timely interventions.
He points out the fortunate presence of comprehensive pregnancy monitoring systems in Spain, unlike in some other countries where such oversight is lacking for a substantial portion of women.
The method’s application, known as a liquid biopsy, presents a new frontier in non-invasive diagnostics, particularly in the realm of disease detection and progression tracking.
Although its effectiveness awaits validation through further research, León emphasizes that this development harbors great potential but requires cautious interpretation due to certain design limitations.
Unveiling the research insights
In a comprehensive study involving 498 pregnant women, Tienpont’s team delved into the intricacies of DNA methylation in blood samples.
Distinct patterns emerged when comparing control pregnancies to those afflicted by preeclampsia.
Leveraging these revelations, the researchers devised a predictive model that not only diagnoses preeclampsia but also identifies the risk pre-symptomatically, as early as the 12th week of gestation.
Furthermore, the researchers demonstrated the integration of this model with existing clinical and demographic risk factors, culminating in a risk score.
This composite approach successfully predicted early onset preeclampsia in 72% of patients, potentially heralding a transformative shift in prenatal care strategies.
As this cutting-edge technique gains momentum in the fight against preeclampsia, the prospects of safeguarding mothers and newborns from its clutches grow brighter.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.