Personalized screening early in pregnancy may improve preeclampsia detection: American Heart Association

2024 MAY 16 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Research Highlights:

Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET Monday, May 6, 2024

DALLAS, May 6, 2024 - A new screening algorithm for preeclampsia combining maternal history, ultrasound data and several tests for blood markers may better predict the majority of preeclampsia cases in the first trimester of pregnancy, when it may still be preventable, according to new research published in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

Preeclampsia is the most dangerous form of high blood pressure during pregnancy (blood pressure measures 140/90 mm Hg), and it is a leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Preeclampsia is potentially life-threatening when untreated. It affects 1 in 25 pregnancies in the U.S. and is more common in first-time pregnancies. Symptoms include headaches, vision changes and swelling of the mother’s hands, feet, face or eyes; or a change in the well-being of the baby. Recent research has found that preeclampsia can be linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications for women later in life.

“Preeclampsia is one of the most severe illnesses of pregnancy and may lead to preterm birth and/or maternal death,” said senior study author Emmanuel Bujold, M.D., M.Sc., professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Universite Laval in Quebec City, Canada.

The biological mechanisms that lead preeclampsia usually start in the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1 through 12), however, the initial symptoms of preeclampsia most often do not appear before week 20, Bujold noted.

The current risk factor-based guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend pregnant women take aspirin if they have a major risk factor such as chronic high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, lupus or preeclampsia in a prior pregnancy. Aspirin is also recommended by ACOG for pregnant women with two moderate risk factors such as being a Black woman, having a sister or mother with history of preeclampsia, having a first pregnancy, obesity or an IVF pregnancy.

“Following those guidelines, almost all Black women should take aspirin during pregnancy, as should about one-third of all women of other races and ethnicities,” Bujold said.

Previous studies from the Fetal Medicine Foundation have found that preterm preeclampsia, defined as developing preeclampsia before 37 weeks of gestation, can be predicted in the first trimester using a combination of ultrasound and blood biomarker tests. In this study, researchers recruited over 7,000 women with first-time pregnancies across Canada who were between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant to evaluate the Fetal Medicine Foundation’s screening model. The model consisted of maternal history, ultrasound data and several tests for blood markers.

The study found:

The only way to resolve preeclampsia once it has developed is to deliver the baby. A previous meta-analysis by the study authors found that taking one low-dose aspirin daily may reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia by up to 53%.

“Using this new screening model, treatment decisions were based on each individual’s personal risk,” Bujold said. “With their personal risk calculated, it’s much easier for a woman to make the right decision, for example, if she chooses to take daily low-dose aspirin, she is much more likely to follow through because it’s based on personalized screening test.”

Study background and details:

Among the study’s limitations, several women with risk factors for preeclampsia, such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes before pregnancy, were not included in the study if they were already taking aspirin for preeclampsia prevention. This would make it difficult to determine whether this population would rely solely on the Fetal Medicine Foundation’s screening model to decide whether or not to take daily, low-dose aspirin, Bujold noted. Additionally, only one lab was used to analyze blood samples, and blood samples collected at other centers across Canada were frozen and shipped for analysis, meaning that biomarkers were measured several weeks after the blood was drawn, which may have affected the results.

“It’s reasonable to believe that the inclusion of the entire population and immediate analysis of blood samples may both have improved the screening process. If we implemented a screening program in big cities across North America, the screening would be expected to be even better and more accurate,” Bujold said. “The good news is that we now have a more precise screening approach using existing tests that can predict preeclampsia early in pregnancy. The next step is to make this screening available to all pregnant women so that more women could receive a diagnosis early in pregnancy and begin preventative aspirin treatment, potentially preventing complications of severe preeclampsia.”

According to Sadiya S. Khan, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, chair of the writing group for the Association’s 2023 scientific statement on Optimizing Prepregnancy Cardiovascular Health to Improve Outcomes in Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals and Offspring, predicting risk for term and preterm preeclampsia remains an important goal and priority to improve maternal health and mitigate disparities. Khan is the Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and an associate professor of medicine and preventive medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and a preventive cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine.

“Since the risks for preeclampsia may be largely influenced by health before pregnancy, the ability of a screening model to be applied in early pregnancy is very helpful and can initiate conversations between the clinician and patient about strategies to optimize heart health,” Khan said. “However, challenges remain with implementation of models such as this one that integrate biomarkers that are not routinely assessed and may not be widely available, especially among people in vulnerable populations who are most likely to have the highest risk for preterm preeclampsia.”

Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript.

Studies published in the American Heart Association’s scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.

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