Protein may reveal pregnancy disorder

[laura]

This article quotes our Executive Board President and Director of Communications Eleni and board member Pat Dignan on this exciting new development:

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1104907062307830.xml

[paljane8]

That is fabulous! Great article!

Nancy Eastwood
Moderator

[tafkap]

This is awesome. I'm thrilled with all of the threads posted about this and the news coverage!

Does anyone know how we can be a part of further studies? I for one would love to have this test done! While it doesn't prevent it, I'd be interested in finding out my results. Thanks!



Jessica- Colorado Co-Coordinator
dd Katherine Grace born
10-13-2003
34weeks,6days,39minutes PIH/ Pre-E www.coreyandjess.info

[meg]

WHat a wonderful breakthrough!! I am SO hoping and praying this disease can be better understood and treated before my 2 little girls grow up and become pregnant them selves!

Will 2-6-00 (PE at 35 weeks 4 days)5lb 1 ounce
Elizabeth 7-3-01 (NO PE or PIH)8 lb 12 ounces
Katherine Grace 10-8-04, 6 lb 10 oz (oligo at 37.5 weeks but PIH/PE free)
Proud Aunt to Ethan born 26/27 weeks (March 8th) weighing 1 lb 8 ounces! Our little fighter!
Now 9 months and over 12 pounds!

[kimpaulus00]

Word is getting around about this research. My grandmother heard about the research on the Columbus, Ohio news last night and mentioned it to my mom.
http://www.nbc4i.com/health/4050535/detail.html

I definitely hope something comes from this research so that by the time Alexandra is of child bearing age, PE can be readily predicted/identified and maybe even prevented. We can always hope....



Kim
Mother to
Allison Jean (born 5/23/2003), our beautiful angel who showed a spirit and strength that belied her small size and short time on earth
Alexandra Joy Tauriainen born 12/17/04 at 7:52AM and weighing in at 5 lbs, 12 oz -- our beautiful Christmas present!

[grace04]

The word IS getting out. I agree. I have received about a dozen phone calls from people who saw it on the news and wanted to make sure I knew about it. It is so nice to know people are paying attention!! :)

Jaime Nolan (DH Joe)
Parents of Grace Ann
2/22/04-3/2/04 (born @ 27 weeks severe Pre E)

[maxs mom]

OK, I hate to be the skeptic here, but I would love somebody to refute what I have to say, then I could feel a little more optimistic.

First of all, how is a study with 238 women viable? It seems like too small a population to be statistically viable.

Second, they discovered lower levels at 25 weeks PG, which continued to lower to 36 weeks. This is way too late for some of us who got PE earlier than 25 weeks.

However, being skeptical, I am really glad this research is getting so much publicity. My MIL saw it in RI and thought it meant a cure for PE. Unfortunately, that is not the case yet, but it does sound promising if further research comes out as predicted.

By the way, here is the NIH article on this which I found a little more informative than the other press releases.
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2005/nichd-04.htm

Kara (34)
DH, John (36)
Max, 1/20/03, 25 wks, 1lb. 3ozs. (IUGR), severe PE
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mightymax/

It's a Girl! EDD at 36.5 weeks is 3/26/05

[caryn]

The number of women in the study isn't as important as how they are selected. If it's truly a random sample, then it's valid. Plus, the smaller the sample, the stronger the effect has to be to be statistically significant...

WRT the test working at 25 weeks -- that's the urine test they're developing primarily for third world countries IIRC. It's cheap and easy to administer and will allow them to closely monitor women who would otherwise go untreated. They measured the same protein in bloodwork at 13-16 weeks and found that it was lower in women who went on to develop PE as well, and I suspect that test is the one they'll be administering in countries that can support standardized blood tests as a part of their prenatal care.

This is all tied in to the research on sFlt-1, the VEGF and PlGF antagonist the kidney doctors turned up in a cancer study. I've got the link to the original study somewhere if anyone wants it, and I'm pretty sure it's posted several places on the preeclampsia.org site as well.

Caryn
DS Oscar born 10/20/02 at 34 weeks, rapid-onset severe PE

[eleni]

To be clear, this was a retrospective study -- they looked at urine samples stored 10 years ago. In the preeclampsia community this is somewhat "old" news, but getting a lot of attention now because the paper was published in JAMA, arguably one of the top 3 medical journals. Publication in a medical journal of this credibility is what gives mainstream media the green light to consider a piece of research "signficant." Researchers now that these results need to be corroborated in further studies, particularly in clinical studies, and those studies are being developed now. It is far too soon for any women to "ask" for this test in the course of their OB care. As an organization, we will publicize research study recruitment when that becomes available. The best thing anybody can do to involve herself in PE studies is to REGISTER on our site as a preeclampsia survivor. For instance, we are colloborating with the NIH on another study that will be commencing very, very soon. Participants are chosen randomly from those who are registered with the PF. If you aren't registered, register. If you know of other PE survivors, get them to register. Those member numbers are our currency in this industry!

[lisac]

It seems like a test like this would be a great way to determine risk, but I believe that the JAMA study found that some women with low levels never got pre-e. So it seems that this would be an excellent way to assess risk for first time pregnant moms. I think it of like the AFP triple screen where its only an indicator of possibility/probability.

I think its great that such a test would be available. It can help first time moms be more vigilant...(and those women who get pre-e for the first time in a subsequent pg). For women like us...well....we already know we have a risk. That's my uneducated theory which may be very off base!

Lisa

Lisa (35)

Jacqueline (stillborn 24 wks) severe pre-e

#2 EDD 6/11/05