Preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that affects tens of thousands of mothers and half a million babies a year
A new treatment, which simulates a dialysis process, has managed to prolong pregnancy by an average of 10 days, improving the chances of healthy births
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that affects thousands of women worldwide, killing more than 70,000 mothers and 500,000 babies annually. Its prevalence and consequences pose a serious public health challenge.
A new clinical trial conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in the US has explored an innovative technique that seeks to remove the sFlt-1 protein from maternal blood.
This treatment, which simulates a dialysis process, has managed to prolong pregnancy by an average of 10 days, improving the chances of healthy birth for babies.
Testimony of a mother
Maria Patzwald, one of the participants, attributes the birth of her son Bennet to the interventions of this treatment, which allowed her to give birth at 34 weeks.
"Without this treatment, I think he would have been born earlier and would have found it much more difficult to start life," Patzwald told BBC Mundo.
While awaiting the arrival of her son, she was selected as one of 16 women who would participate in this pioneering trial.
Their experience underscores the importance of these advances in the care of pregnant women.
Security and accessibility considerations
Despite the optimism generated by the preliminary results, experts such as Andrew Shennen, president of the charity Action on Pre-eclampsia and professor of maternal and fetal health at King's College London, acknowledge that the process is ingenious, but point to the need for more extensive trials to ensure the safety of the procedure.
In addition, there is a risk that these techniques will not be available to women in low-resource countries, where mortality from preeclampsia is higher.
Study leader Ravi Thadhani plans to start a larger trial in the next year and expresses hope that the technology will reach clinics in the next three to five years. Implementing existing technologies could facilitate access to these essential treatments, benefiting more women and babies around the world.
Preeclampsia, a complication to be taken very seriously
The BBC's work points out that, although scientists do not know for sure, research suggests that preeclampsia occurs when the placenta forms abnormally, altering blood flow and interfering with the mother's normal blood pressure control.
High blood pressure can then cause strokes and organ damage. Preeclampsia develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Other symptoms include severe headache, vision problems, pain below the ribs, sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet, and heartburn.
Risk factors
Major risk factors for developing preeclampsia include first-time pregnancy, personal or family history of preeclampsia, chronic hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, obesity, multiple pregnancy, and advanced maternal age. It may also increase the risk of having had IVF treatment.
Having one or more of these factors does not mean that preeclampsia will occur, but it does warrant closer prenatal monitoring. If you want, I can also summarize the alarm symptoms and when to seek urgent attention.
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