Life-saving pre-eclampsia test will halve the time to diagnose killer condition for pregnant women
The new blood test check will be available across the NHS after a successful trial
A LIFE-saving blood test halves the time needed to diagnose a killer condition in mums-to-be.
The pre-eclampsia check will be available across the NHS after a successful trial.
The condition affects up to one in ten pregnancies, triggering high blood pressure and severe headaches. But one in 100 cases can lead to organ damage and fits, with expectant mums and their babies both at risk.
Every year around 1,000 tots and seven women die.
King’s College London experts developed the new test that speeds up diagnosis from four days to two. It slashes the risk of complications by 20 per cent.
A study following 1,035 women with suspected pre-eclampsia revealed measuring levels of the protein placental growth factor (PlGF) in their blood provided the most accurate diagnosis.
Previously medics monitored blood pressure and checked for protein in a woman’s urine.
The trial divided the group in two, according to The Lancet.
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Docs using PlGF tests pinpointed pre-eclampsia in 1.9 days, compared to 4.1 days for traditional methods. Prof Lucy Chappell said: “We knew monitoring PlGF was an accurate way to help detect the condition but were unsure whether making it available would lead to better care. Now we know that it does.”
NHS England’s Prof Tony Young said: “The evidence shows widespread PlGF testing could save lives. It is fantastic news. The NHS . . . will be making this test more widely available.”
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