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Novel Molecular Biological Approaches for the Diagnosis of Preeclampsia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Basel, Schanzenstrasse 46, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland
^a Author for correspondence. Fax 41 325 9031; e-mail holzgreve@ubaclu.unibas.ch.

Although the birth experience has never been as safe for mothers and children as today, the puzzling pregnancy-related disease called "preeclampsia" still occurs in 2–10% of all pregnancies. Despite some therapeutic progress, it is still one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality in the developed and developing world. Preeclampsia, which usually occurs late in the second or, more frequently, in the third trimester of pregnancy, is characterized by the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, edema, and proteinuria in a woman with no prior incidence of these sequelae (1). The association of hemolysis, increased liver enzymes, and low platelets (the so-called HELLP syndrome) puts not only the child, but also the mother, at severe risk. Preeclampsia preferentially affects the firstborn of a particular partner (2). The etiology of the disease is still unknown, although research suggests that the trophoblast is unable to effectively invade the decidua or to modify the spiral artery walls (3).

A serious clinical shortcoming is clearly represented by the fact that no reliable test exists to identify those women at risk for developing the disorder early enough in their pregnancies to permit preventive treatment (4). Current treatment is thus restricted to symptomatic management with . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

The following articles in journals at HighWire Press have cited this article:

				A. Fernandez, B. Prieto, A. Escudero, J. H. Ladenson, and F. V. Alvarez A Monoclonal Antibody with Potential for Aiding Non-invasive Prenatal Diagnosis: Utility in Screening of Pregnant Women at Risk of Preeclampsia J. Histochem. Cytochem., March 1, 2005; 53(3): 345 - 350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Simpson and F. Bischoff Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Blood: Evolving Clinical Applications JAMA, March 3, 2004; 291(9): 1135 - 1137. [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Hoesli, M. Danek, D. Lin, Y. Li, S. Hahn, and W. Holzgreve Circulating Erythroblasts in Maternal Blood Are Not Elevated Before Onset of Preterm Labor Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2002; 100(5): 992 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Y. Zhong, W. Holzgreve, and S. Hahn Cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal circulation does not stem from the transplacental passage of fetal erythroblasts Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2002; 8(9): 864 - 870. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Pertl and D. W. Bianchi Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma: Emerging Clinical Applications Obstet. Gynecol., September 1, 2001; 98(3): 483 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Y. ZHONG, M. R. BURK, C. TROEGER, A. KANG, W. HOLZGREVE, and S. HAHN Fluctuation of Maternal and Fetal Free Extracellular Circulatory DNA in Maternal Plasma Obstet. Gynecol., December 1, 2000; 96(6): 991 - 996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y.M. D. Lo, T. K. Lau, J. Zhang, T. N. Leung, A. M.Z. Chang, N. M. Hjelm, R. S. Elmes, and D. W. Bianchi Increased Fetal DNA Concentrations in the Plasma of Pregnant Women Carrying Fetuses with Trisomy 21 Clin. Chem., October 1, 1999; 45(10): 1747 - 1751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]