New Delhi, October 20 (IANS). Whether a pregnant woman is at risk of preeclampsia or not can be detected through a simple blood test. Experts have said this on the basis of a research. Preeclampsia is a hypersensitive disorder occurring in pregnancy which can sometimes be fatal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 10 percent of pregnant women suffer from preeclampsia (sudden high blood pressure and protein in the urine).
While preeclampsia can develop as early as week 20 of pregnancy, the study focused on identifying women who were hospitalized during labor and were at risk for preeclampsia.
Researchers believe that doctors can predict a woman’s preeclampsia risk by calculating the ratio of two blood proteins – fibrinogen and albumin. It is measured in a routine blood test when the woman is admitted to the hospital before delivery.
Fibrinogen is a protein responsible for blood clotting and inflammation, while albumin helps maintain fluid balance and transports hormones, vitamins, and enzymes throughout the body.
Both may be disrupted by preeclampsia – fibrinogen may be increased, albumin may be decreased, or both.
There is no universally established normal value for the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), which can range from 0.05 to 1 or higher. High FAR values are often associated with increased inflammation, infection or serious health conditions, and the higher the FAR, the greater the concern.
In the study, researchers analyzed the records of 2,629 women who gave birth between 2018 and 2024, 1,819 who did not have preeclampsia, 584 who had preeclampsia with mild signs or symptoms and 226 who had preeclampsia with severe signs or symptoms.
The researchers found that people who had a higher FAR were more likely to develop preeclampsia than those with a lower FAR.
Their research revealed that hospitalized pregnant women whose FAR levels were 0.1 or less had a 24 percent chance of developing preeclampsia. At the same time, when the FAR level reached 0.3, the probability of this disorder increased by 41 percent.
The risk of preeclampsia increases if a woman going through labor has FAR and other clinical indicators – such as age over 35 or chronic hypertension or obesity. In such a case, the obstetrician and anesthesiologist can take extra precautions to reduce the risk and ensure that the patient’s blood pressure and fluid levels remain stable and controlled.
It suggested that “in such a situation, a blood pressure check or laboratory tests may be ordered. If the FAR indicates that the woman’s symptoms are severe, an epidural (pain-relieving injection) may be administered beforehand to relieve pain.” Could.”
–IANS
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