Blood test shows birth risk
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A simple blood test could prevent deadly preeclampsia complications during labour, researchers say.
Experts say the test could identify women in labour who are at risk of preeclampsia and enable prompt intervention.
This condition, marked by sudden high blood pressure and protein in urine, affects 5 per cent to 10 per cent of pregnant women, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The study focused on identifying at-risk women admitted for labour, as preeclampsia can appear as early as the 20th week of pregnancy.
The study found that the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), calculated from routine blood tests done at hospital admission, can help predict preeclampsia risk.
Fibrinogen is linked to blood clotting and inflammation, while albumin maintains fluid balance and nutrient transport.
Both can be altered in preeclampsia, with fibrinogen levels rising and albumin dropping. Elevated FAR values are associated with inflammation and severe conditions, including cardiovascular and inflammatory bowel diseases.
Researchers analysed records from 2,629 women who gave birth between 2018 and 2024.
Of these, 584 had mild preeclampsia and 226 had severe cases. Higher FAR values increased the likelihood of preeclampsia, with a 24 per cent risk if FAR was 0.1 or higher at admission, and over 41 per cent when FAR exceeded 0.3.
“Our study shows that FAR can be a predictive tool that gives anaesthesiologists and obstetricians a new method for assessing … [the] risk of developing preeclampsia when they are admitted to the hospital,” says lead author Lucy Shang from the Icahn School of Medicine, New York.
If FAR suggests a higher risk, clinicians can take measures like closer monitoring or early epidural administration to manage potential complications.
Further research aims to establish precise FAR thresholds for concern, with the goal of incorporating the tool into routine prenatal care.
The research was presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2024 annual meeting.