Although there is no definitive treatment for preeclampsia, early screening and detection can allow patients to ensure proper management throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.

Currently, preeclampsia is diagnosed through clinical assessment, which involves a physical examination, laboratory testing, and imaging such as ultrasound. This process of prenatal testing involves measuring biomarkers – biological substances that can signal the presence of a medical condition. For instance, high cholesterol can serve as a biomarker for heart disease risk.

In this study, scientists looked at a potential biomarker for preeclampsia: maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn) levels. GlyFn is a protein found in maternal blood that is secreted by the liver and other body tissues. Changes in GlyFn levels may reflect impaired vascular function, making it a promising early indicator for preeclampsia.

Researchers collected and analyzed results from 11 global studies on GlyFn levels, six in Europe and four in Asia. They looked at whether GlyFn levels were different in pregnant women with preeclampsia compared to those without the condition. From these findings, they could evaluate how accurate GlyFn tests were at identifying preeclampsia in pregnant individuals.

As a result, the researchers found that GlyFn levels were consistently higher in women with preeclampsia. In six of the studies that assessed diagnostic accuracy, the GlyFn test correctly identified 81% of preeclampsia cases and reported high statistical test accuracy. These results were supported across a majority of the studies, with strong measures of sensitivity and specificity reinforcing the link between elevated GlyFn levels and preeclampsia.

The researchers concluded that maternal serum GlyFn could be a promising new tool for detecting preeclampsia early on in pregnancy. We can expect to see GlyFn used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of preeclampsia, providing a more accurate, fast, and cost-effective approach for improving both maternal and child health.

Take Home: Maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn) is emerging as a potential
effective first-trimester biomarker for assessing risk for preeclampsia. More research will be ongoing to test its ability to be used as a tool.

Citation: Glycosylated fibronectin in preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07243-6

ABOUT RESEARCH ROUNDUP

Each quarter, our team of science writers reviews the most current research studies related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and summarizes those studies of greatest interest and potential impact to our community, including research studies related to risk assessment, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Special thanks to our volunteer research team, including Dr. Sig-Linda Jacobson, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, Dr. Julie Reynolds, and Amanda Yang who make Research Roundup possible, and to our Patient Advisory Council, who reviews these materials from the patient perspective.