Pre-eclampsia: A Dangerous Mystery That Scientists Can’t Fully Understand
Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition during pregnancy that causes over 70,000 deaths of mothers worldwide each year, but its causes remain unclear.
One famous athlete, Allyson Felix, thought her pregnancy would go smoothly, just like her successful track career, which included seven Olympic gold medals.
However, at a routine check-up, she discovered she had severe pre-eclampsia, leading to an emergency C-section two months early for her daughter, Camryn, who spent time in the neonatal unit.
Thankfully, Camryn is now healthy, but Felix knows that not all stories have happy endings.
Tragically, her friend Tori Bowie, a champion sprinter, died during childbirth due to pre-eclampsia complications at just 32 years old.
Pre-eclampsia can develop without warning at any point in pregnancy, and it can also occur after giving birth. Scientists believe that inflammation in the uterus might disrupt how the mother and baby communicate, which can cause high blood pressure.
This condition is more common in Black women, but researchers don’t fully understand why. Some experts suggest it may be due to limited access to healthcare and nutrition.
Although scientists have discovered some clues about pre-eclampsia, predicting who will develop it is still challenging.
Current methods rely on risk factors like age and medical history, but they aren’t very reliable. New tests are emerging, like one that measures certain proteins in the blood, which can help identify women at risk of severe pre-eclampsia.
Researchers are also exploring innovative approaches to understand and treat pre-eclampsia. One exciting project involves creating a “placenta on-a-chip,” which mimics how the placenta functions in the early stages of pre-eclampsia.
This could help identify early warning signs and test new treatments. Currently, low-dose aspirin is recommended for women at high risk, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
New drugs are being tested to prevent or treat pre-eclampsia, including repurposed medications that are already safe for pregnant women.
These advancements hold promise, especially for women of color, who face a higher risk of this condition.
Overall, more research and funding are needed to understand pre-eclampsia better. Addressing this issue is vital because it affects not just the health of mothers but also the long-term health of their babies.
As Dr. Lana McClements, a researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, points out, women are crucial to the health of future generations, and finding solutions for pre-eclampsia is essential .
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241015-pre-eclampsia-the-deadly-mystery-scientists-cant-solve