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Clue to early pre-eclampsia test | Clue to early pre-eclampsia test |
(1 day later) | |
Researchers have discovered a gene which may be linked with pre-eclampsia in some women - raising hopes of a diagnostic test and early treatment. | Researchers have discovered a gene which may be linked with pre-eclampsia in some women - raising hopes of a diagnostic test and early treatment. |
Mice, genetically-engineered to be deficient in an enzyme called COMT, were found to develop pre-eclampsia. | Mice, genetically-engineered to be deficient in an enzyme called COMT, were found to develop pre-eclampsia. |
Writing in Nature, the US researchers said low levels of COMT are also seen in pregnant women with the condition - which is dangerous for mother and baby. | Writing in Nature, the US researchers said low levels of COMT are also seen in pregnant women with the condition - which is dangerous for mother and baby. |
But obstetric experts said a test would still be a long way off. | But obstetric experts said a test would still be a long way off. |
Pre-eclampsia accounts for 15% of all premature deliveries in the UK. | Pre-eclampsia accounts for 15% of all premature deliveries in the UK. |
This is because the only way to completely cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Left untreated, the condition can lead to convulsions, kidney failure, serious liver problems and death. | |
The researchers from Harvard Medical School looked at proteins which may be involved in pre-eclampsia by affecting the level of oxygen delivered to the placenta. | The researchers from Harvard Medical School looked at proteins which may be involved in pre-eclampsia by affecting the level of oxygen delivered to the placenta. |
If this is a gene responsible for pre-eclampsia in some families then it would be a nice genetic test Dr Raghu Kalluri, study leader | If this is a gene responsible for pre-eclampsia in some families then it would be a nice genetic test Dr Raghu Kalluri, study leader |
They settled on COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase), an enzyme involved in the development of new blood vessels and a compound it produces called 2-methoxyoestradiol (2-ME). | |
Mice without any COMT also failed to produce 2-ME, which normally increases during the last three months of human pregnancy. | Mice without any COMT also failed to produce 2-ME, which normally increases during the last three months of human pregnancy. |
They found when mice were given back the COMT it cured their pre-eclampsia. The researchers say this has important implications for a potential treatment. | They found when mice were given back the COMT it cured their pre-eclampsia. The researchers say this has important implications for a potential treatment. |
Measurement | Measurement |
As well as the potential for a genetic test to identify women at risk, it is possible to measure 2-ME in blood or urine, which could identify those who need more close monitoring, they added. | As well as the potential for a genetic test to identify women at risk, it is possible to measure 2-ME in blood or urine, which could identify those who need more close monitoring, they added. |
"If this is a gene responsible for pre-eclampsia in some families then it would be a nice genetic test," said study leader Dr Raghu Kalluri. | "If this is a gene responsible for pre-eclampsia in some families then it would be a nice genetic test," said study leader Dr Raghu Kalluri. |
"But also levels of 2-ME can be measured in pregnant women and they can be supplemented with a pill. | "But also levels of 2-ME can be measured in pregnant women and they can be supplemented with a pill. |
"We would be giving back what is missing in the mothers and babies." | "We would be giving back what is missing in the mothers and babies." |
The team are now planning a large clinical trial in women to look at the effect of COMT. | The team are now planning a large clinical trial in women to look at the effect of COMT. |
Professor Andrew Shennan, consultant obstetrician at St Thomas' Hospital in London said currently all women are closely monitored for signs of pre-eclampsia. | Professor Andrew Shennan, consultant obstetrician at St Thomas' Hospital in London said currently all women are closely monitored for signs of pre-eclampsia. |
"If you had a very good test which said 'you don't have to see this woman but you need to monitor this woman' it would be very useful." | "If you had a very good test which said 'you don't have to see this woman but you need to monitor this woman' it would be very useful." |
But he stressed other markers had been found in the past and turned out not to be useful. | But he stressed other markers had been found in the past and turned out not to be useful. |
Professor James Walker, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists agreed it was a potentially interesting new area of research. | Professor James Walker, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists agreed it was a potentially interesting new area of research. |
"There's a lot of big studies at the moment looking at this area but the problem is that screening is very expensive for the small percentage who have the disease." | "There's a lot of big studies at the moment looking at this area but the problem is that screening is very expensive for the small percentage who have the disease." |
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