Researchers to develop test for pregnancy complications

The test would identify subtle variations in specific genes from the parents-to-be, which will help preempt the hazards, making way for early preventive measures and additional obstetric monitoring if problems are detected.

Professor Claire Roberts, the senior researcher of the study, said that disorders such as pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication, pre-term birth and fetal growth could be perceived through the screening.

Professor Roberts disclosed that the screening test would enable them to identify couples at potential risk even before they conceive. "We could look at both the mother and the father's DNA and determine whether they are at risk or not. If they are at high risk of one of these complications, we could tailor their antenatal care."

Reasons for complications
Roberts further clarified that the precise causes of the pregnancy complications are unknown but how well the placenta develops is a key factor in a successful pregnancy. The genes play a vital role in the placenta development.

“The problem with complications is that we are unable to predict which women are at risk until symptoms develop, and then therapies can be too little, too late," said Roberts.

According to the researchers nearly one in ten pregnant women are affected by pre-eclampsia which is identified as high blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. The mother can be afflicted with headaches, painful ribs, severe swelling, kidney damage, stroke and in some extreme cases even death.

The study and its findings
For their study, undertaken to devise a possible test for predicting pregnancy complications, the researchers recruited 1169 women who had progressed into the twentieth week of their pregnancy.

Samples were taken from the women, their partners and their babies. In addition, medical history details of both the parents, extra ultrasounds, cervical swabs and urine samples were taken.

"Our findings show that it does actually take two for successful pregnancy," associate professor Roberts says. "Pregnancy success is determined by a complex interaction of maternal, paternal and environmental characteristics that together dictate how well the placenta develops and functions and how the mother adapts to pregnancy.”

The future prospects of the test
Professor Roberts revealed that she was looking for a commercial partner for a practical diagnostic test for couples. She stated that the test would be affordable.

To conclude, professor Roberts stated "When you get pregnant, you have no idea what your risk is. We think that the availability of a test which could predict risk would give couples comfort. We anticipate that a very large number of women, in excess of 90 per cent, would take up a test such as this."

Professor Roberts presented her team's findings and discussed many other pregnancy risk factors at the Adelaide University's free public seminar series on Tuesday 12 May.