An update on pre-eclampsia prediction research

Key content: Early prediction of future pre-eclampsia risk includes ultrasound assessment of uterine perfusion, angiogenic vascular markers and fetal nucleic acids. Angiogenic markers such as soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1, soluble endoglin, vascular endothelial growth factor (165)b and fetal nucleic acids show altered levels in women who develop pre-eclampsia, well before the onset of symptoms. In future years it may be possible to offer women of 12 weeks of gestation a combined screening test involving quantification of fetal nucleic acids and angiogenic markers and ultrasound assessment of uterine pulsatility index to quantify accurately their overall pre-eclampsia risk. Learning objectives: To learn about novel and combined methods of screening for pre-eclampsia. To learn how comprehension of predictive markers may aid the understanding of pre-eclampsia pathogenesis. Ethical issues: The ability to predict pre-eclampsia is futile unless research into prevention and early medication is established.