Early Diagnostic Test for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, are estimated to affect between 4-10% of all pregnant women. If left untreated, preeclampsia leads to the development of eclampsia, which is characterized by seizures, cardiac arrest, and kidney failure. Despite the common occurrence of preeclampsia, there is still no known cure or test to assess risk at an early stage of pregnancy. This technology by researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia encompasses both a new test to determine the risks of preeclampsia in a mother as well as a new potential treatment option to lower the risk of preeclampsia symptoms.

POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATIONS:

• Determine risk of pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders in pregnant women
• Provide treatment to reduce risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

MAIN ADVANTAGES OF INVENTION:

• Can be used as standalone test or in combination with other tests already on market for more accurate results
• Based on a novel understanding of cause of pre-eclampsia, this test is more accurate than the current diagnostic options available to pregnant women