Novel technology for detecting pre-eclampsia at the point of care has the potential to transform patient pathways for this tricky to diagnose condition, particularly in under-served communities, explains Naomi Chant.
Every year, thousands of expectant mothers face a silent threat: pre-eclampsia. Affecting approximately 3-5% of pregnancies worldwide, this potentially life-threatening condition can develop rapidly, often without clear warning signs.1 Thought to stem from abnormal placental development, pre-eclampsia is typically marked by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine – symptoms that are non-specific and often overlap with other common pregnancy-related issues.
In the UK alone, 8-10% of pregnant women develop hypertension during pregnancy, underscoring the urgent need for more precise tools to identify those truly at risk. Yet only a subset of this number are true pre-eclampsia. The challenge lies in distinguishing those at genuine risk of severe complications from those with less concerning symptoms. When missed or misdiagnosed, pre-eclampsia can escalate rapidly – leading to seizures (eclampsia), organ failure, preterm delivery, or even death for both mother and baby. Despite advances in maternal healthcare, diagnosing and predicting who will develop pre-eclampsia – and when – remains a major clinical challenge.
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