nitrogenA routine blood test may be able to predict the likelihood of preeclampsia in pregnant women in labor, a study suggests.
Researchers from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) will present their findings this weekend at the 2024 Anesthesiology Annual Meeting. Their research shows that doctors can predict someone’s risk of developing postpartum preeclampsia by calculating the ratio of two different blood proteins: fibrinogen and albumin, which are present when labor arrives at the hospital. Measured during routine blood tests.
According to the ASA, the protein fibrinogen is involved in blood clotting and inflammation, while albumin helps maintain fluid balance and transport hormones, vitamins and enzymes throughout the body. Preeclampsia may disrupt levels of these two blood proteins.
Based on the fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR) in blood test results, doctors can determine whether someone is at risk. According to the study results, higher FAR ratios are associated with increased inflammation, infection, or serious health conditions. Researchers believe that the higher the FAR, the greater the concern for preeclampsia.
What is preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy disorder that can pose risks to both the birth parents and the baby. According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy and is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to organs such as the liver or kidneys. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as epilepsy (eclampsia), organ damage, and even death.
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In babies, preeclampsia can restrict blood flow, affect growth and lead to low birth weight or premature birth, according to the Mayo Clinic. Early detection and appropriate management by a healthcare provider are key to minimizing risk.
“Preeclampsia is common, and its incidence increases over time,” said Daniel Katz, MD, an anesthesiologist and senior author of the study. “Death from preeclampsia is often multifactorial, as it can indirectly contribute to other causes of death, such as postpartum haemorrhage, but can also be a major cause of death by causing complications such as stroke.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 10 percent of pregnant women have preeclampsia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black people are 60 percent more likely than white people to develop preeclampsia, and they are also more likely to die or have serious consequences such as kidney damage.
Several famous women in Hollywood have even gone public with their personal experiences with preeclampsia, including Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams, all in an effort to highlight the maternal health crisis.
“Preeclampsia is common, and its incidence has increased over time.” —Daniel Katz, MD, lead study author
While the study has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal (both of which would help further establish medical authority), Dr. Katz said there are immediate plans to do so.
“We are currently preparing the manuscript and will submit it for publication,” he said. “We already plan to collaborate with other institutions and merge data to obtain a larger dataset. We also aim to use data from this study to secure funding for a prospective observational trial.
The research and publication process is still ongoing, but Dr. Katz says this routine blood test for the marker is a step in the right direction for treating preeclampsia before the results become serious or fatal. It could also improve how pregnant women are treated in hospitals during childbirth.
“If FAR proves to be a good predictor of preeclampsia and preeclampsia severity, it could be used as part of a scoring system to determine treatment plans for women during labor,” he said. “It can help with decisions about vaginal delivery or caesarean section, can influence how and when women receive epidurals, and influence other decision points.”
