March of Dimes contributed research to the Stanford study.
Preeclampsiais a condition marked by high blood pressure combined with elevated levels of protein in the urine.
Preeclampsia typically occurs after 20 weeks into a pregnancy, but can also happen after a pregnancy.
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With treatment, most pregnant people with preeclampsia deliver healthy babies.
How Does An Early Detection Preeclampsia Test Work?
The more genes present in the test results, the greater the risk of preeclampsia.
By testing cfRNA levels in the blood, researchers can look for indicators of preeclampsia risk.
The test can be administered as early as 5 weeks gestation and before symptoms occur.
Sometimes, someone walks in, I examine them, and Im like, you have preeclampsia.
And then you have people who you would never know have it.
Who Would Benefit From Early Testing Most?
Family history, age, and previous pregnancy complications can play a role, too.
Preeclampsia rates are about 60% higher in Black women than White women.
For example, swollen hands are not normal, she said.
Moufarrej M, Vorperian S, Wong R, et al.Early prediction of preeclampsia in pregnancy with cell-free RNA.Nature.
2022;602(7898):689-694. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04410-z
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.High blood pressure during pregnancy.
2020;8. doi:10.3389/fped.2020.605219
The Preeclampsia Foundation.Preeclampsia and racial and ethnic disparities.
