Every year in Britain, approximately 600 babies and five women lose their lives due to a condition called pre-eclampsia. This condition is caused by a defect in the placenta, leading to high blood pressure and kidney problems for the woman.
Initially, there are no symptoms, but as the condition progresses, symptoms like headaches, shoulder pain, nausea, and swelling of hands and feet occur.
A recent study conducted by UCL and published in the journal Hypertension tested the urine of 27 women who developed pre-eclampsia and 47 who did not. The researchers discovered that a specific protein called inositol phosphoglygan P-type was significantly higher in women who developed the condition. Remarkably, the presence of this protein in urine could be detected up to seven weeks before a clinical diagnosis would typically be possible.
These findings suggest that the protein may be the toxin responsible for causing pre-eclampsia. If further studies confirm this, it could lead to the development of treatments to counteract the effects of the protein, ultimately protecting women and babies from serious complications.
Approximately one in ten women experience pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, with one in 50 suffering severe symptoms. Unfortunately, the only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivering the baby. However, delivering too soon could endanger the premature child’s survival.
Professor Thomas W. Rademacher from UCL expresses that predicting the onset of this disease has been a significant challenge in obstetric medicine. Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious complication that can occur during pregnancy.
Professor Rademacher asserts that the presence of the protein seems to be a reliable indicator of whether a woman will develop pre-eclampsia. This means that a simple urine test during pregnancy could identify which women are at the highest risk of developing the condition.
SOURCE:DAILYMAIL
