Scientists say a basic blood test before birth can lend a hand predict preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a solemn pregnancy complication that affects approximately 10% of pregnant women and increases the risk of hypertension, stroke, premature birth and maternal death. Scientists have found that a basic, routine blood test performed on women going into labor can predict their risk of preeclampsia.

Scientists presented a groundbreaking discovery at the ANESTHESILOGY 2024 annual meeting test revealing that a basic blood function index can predict a woman’s risk of preeclampsia when she enters the hospital in labor. However, preeclampsia can develop as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The study found that the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is a valuable predictor of preeclampsia risk. Fibrinogen is necessary for blood clotting and inflammation, while albumin is key to maintaining fluid balance and transporting hormones, vitamins and enzymes throughout the body.

In preeclampsia, these proteins may become disrupted: fibrinogen levels may raise and albumin levels may decrease, or both changes may occur at the same time. By analyzing blood levels of these two proteins, researchers found that women with higher FAR were significantly more likely to develop preeclampsia compared to women with lower rates.

It is known that FAR can be an indicator of increased risk of inflammation, infection or solemn illness. Therefore, this coefficient has been used to predict rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

The study analyzed data from 2,629 participants who gave birth between 2018 and 2024. Among them, 1,819 women did not have preeclampsia. The cohort also included 584 patients with gentle symptoms of preeclampsia, characterized by blood pressure values ​​exceeding 140/90 mm Hg, but without significant signs of organ damage. Additionally, 226 participants showed severe symptoms of preeclampsia, characterized by blood pressure of 160/110 mm Hg or higher, along with signs of organ damage.

The analysis showed a clear correlation between FAR and the risk of preeclampsia. Patients with a FAR of at least 0.1 on admission had a 24% risk of developing preeclampsia, which increased significantly to over 41% for those with a FAR greater than 0.3.

The researchers suggest that in addition to higher FAR, other factors such as age over 35, chronic high blood pressure or obesity should be considered high risk factors for preeclampsia.

“Although FAR has been associated with other inflammatory conditions, its specific utilize in the treatment of preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia has not been described in such a gigantic and racially diverse group.

“Our study shows that FAR may be a predictive tool that will provide anesthesiologists and obstetricians with a modern method for assessing the risk of preeclampsia in a laboring mother after admission to hospital,” said Lucy Shang, lead author of the study.