New blood test assesses the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (krishnamoorthi) — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 21:35:00 +0000

preeclampsia or severe hypertension during pregnancy is a potentially dangerous condition itself. But if not treated early, it can lead to eclampsia, a much more serious condition still, which can cause seizures, coma and possibly death. A new blood test that checks the enzymes in the placenta can help determine whether women have higher risk of developing preeclampsia, and thus take measures to control it.

Many pregnant women will feel safer knowing that there is already a test to measure the risk of developing preeclampsia, a form of high blood pressure associated with excess protein in the urine that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in a woman had no hypertension previously. When left unchecked, can progress to eclampsia and damage various organs (kidney, liver and brain), and lead to fetal complications like premature birth, low birth weight baby and give birth to the dead baby. Hence the importance of identifying to start treatment quickly.

Now, do not confuse the preeclampsia with a slight increase in blood pressure, something common in pregnant women. But if that increase is sudden and severe (more than 140/90 Hg) and occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy, is a typical sign of preeclampsia. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, hypertension affects 6% to 8% of pregnant women in the United States. Eclampsia occurs in one of every 200 women with pre eclampsia, and can be fatal if not treated.

In fact, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are leading causes of illness and death in mothers and newborns.

In addition to hypertension, other symptoms of preeclampsia include: swelling of the face, arms, hands and feet, and sudden weight gain due to fluid retention. Later headaches and abdomen, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and vomiting may occur.

According to a study published in early November in the journal Circulation, the American Heart Association (American Heart Association), new blood test that checks the placenta enzymes can help determine whether a woman is at increased risk of developing this severe form of high blood pressure during pregnancy. The purpose of the test is to differentiate women with preeclampsia from those with only hypertension. This is a breakthrough because current tests can detect hypertension at the time when measured, but cannot predict what will happen later. And if it occurs after the disease has progressed and has caused severe damage to the body.

To identify women at high risk of developing preeclampsia, obstetricians can take steps to monitor and control your blood pressure. At the same time, unnecessary hospitalizations of pregnant women have higher risk of developing preeclampsia is avoided.

The study included 625 women in the UK. 61% of those who developed preeclampsia had low levels of enzymes or proteins in the placenta, called growth factors. This occurs when the placenta (which has a normal arterial system) make an abnormal balance of these enzymes. In preeclampsia, these changes decrease the arterial blood supply to the fetus and placenta, and various organs of the mother.

The researchers also found that if these enzymes down to a certain level before 35 weeks of pregnancy, the baby was likely born within 14 days. In normal pregnancy, the level of enzymes in the placenta remains more stable.

The new test can find out if a woman has a higher risk of preeclampsia or eclampsia during pregnancy. But if you are pregnant, it is also important to know your chances of developing both. Your odds are better if:

Suffer from chronic hypertension

You are obese

You are diabetic

You suffer from kidney disease (kidney)

You're a teenager or over 40 years

You have a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets ...)

Your mother, your sister or your daughter have suffered from preeclampsia or high blood pressure (hypertension) during pregnancy.

If you have any of these risk factors, stay alert to the symptoms of pre-eclampsia. If you find any, go immediately to your doctor for a thorough examination and then take action if necessary. That depends not only on your health and perhaps your life, but also your baby.

Preeclampsia: what it is and its symptoms

noreply@blogger.com (krishnamoorthi) — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:29:00 +0000

Preeclampsia: what it is and its symptoms

Many moms experience swelling during pregnancy, although it is somewhat standard, other times it's a sign of preeclampsia, a potentially dangerous condition for both mother and baby.

The preeclampsia, sometimes incorrectly called toxemia, is the term that is referred to hypertension (high blood pressure) with complications during pregnancy. It is a potentially fatal pregnancy condition.

Preeclampsia: what it is and its symptoms

The preeclampsia occurs mainly in young gilts, usually during the last quarter and is diagnosed when a pregnant woman has these three symptoms simultaneously:

Pathological edema in the hands and face

High Blood Pressure

Presence a high amount of protein in the urine (proteinuria)

Note that the swelling of the legs does not count as part of the syndrome of preeclampsia, because even though it is painful, is caused by the increasing weight of the baby. The main concern is when edema occurs in the hands and face, as the physiological reasons for this are different.

The doctor at each visit in addition to the physical exam, ask to check urine for protein (proteinuria) and also make blood pressure readings. This way you can assess whether the three symptoms that appear are preeclampsia and if so, act immediately.

The management of preeclampsia usually begins when excessive fluid retention and rapid weight gain occurs. The doctor suggests a diet with little or no salt, and about 48 hours of bed rest, except for meals and toilet.

After 48 hours, the pregnant again are evaluated. If the conditions have not been reversed, the obstetrician will increase the frequency of prenatal care and bed rest time.

If not pregnant and continue to improve hypertension and edema, you need to be hospitalized to ensure the rest. In cases where the pregnancy is over 36 weeks, it is necessary to induce labor.

PREECLAMPSIA SYMPTOMS

New blood test assesses the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy

Preeclampsia: what it is and its symptoms

Preeclampsia: what it is and its symptoms