Overweight women are three times more at risk than women of normal weight
The news is courtesy of Diagnostic Technologies
A new study, conducted by the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Udine in Italy, determined that women suffering from obesity are at high risk of getting preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is characterized by increased blood pressure, increased excretion of protein in the urine and severe edema. Among some women there may also be damage to other organs and systems, such as the liver, kidneys, eyes, brain as well as the blood clotting system. The disease also endangers the fetus and may cause it irreversible damage and even death. The study examined the relationship between excess weight and high-risk pregnancy and determined that there is a close relationship between excess weight and the development of preeclampsia.
916 pregnant women participated in the study, who gave birth between January 1, 2006 and August 31, 2006. Before becoming pregnant, the women were measured using the accepted index for assessing overweight, which is the body mass index, known as BMI (Body Mass Index), which expresses the ratio between weight and height in a square Many studies indicate that BMI values lower than 18.5 are an indicator of underweight, BMI values in the range between 18.5-24.9 indicate the normal weight range, BMI values between 25-29.9 indicate overweight and BMI values above 30 are considered extreme overweight.
From the analysis of the results of the data collected during the study, a dramatic picture was obtained for the women suffering from obesity. The study found that 19.6% of pregnant women whose body mass index indicated a BMI above 30, indicating excess weight, developed preeclampsia, compared to the development of the disease among 4.3% of women with a normal BMI (ie 5.7 times risk). The study shows that women who suffer from obesity are at an increased risk of developing preeclampsia compared to women who are of a normal weight.
Dr. Hamotal Meiri, doctor of neurobiology, who is engaged in the study of at-risk pregnancies as part of her role as CEO of Diagnostic Technologies, a company that specializes in developing methods for the early detection of preeclampsia, explained that: "Preeclampsia is a phenomenon that characterizes about 3%-5% of the population in Israel and may cause the death and morbidity of the mother or the fetus. As of today, there are hypotheses regarding the causes of the disease and these studies join the growing medical knowledge we have, which points to environmental and behavioral factors that increase the risk of preeclampsia. Among the causes are anorexia, exposure to air pollution, and pregnancy at a young or late age. However, it is important to emphasize that preeclampsia is a disease that has many causes, and even women of normal weight may develop the disease. The best way to develop prevention and cure is through early detection. The earlier preeclampsia is detected, the greater the chances of prevention, healing and treatment, through close medical supervision, awareness of the entire surrounding system, and the use of food supplements or preventive medication if the doctor suggests it is necessary. One of the innovative ways of early detection of preeclampsia was recently developed by the company's team of scientists, and through a simple blood test, the state of the pregnancy can be monitored and appropriate treatment and medical support can be matched to it."
The study was published in the latest issue of the scientific journal of gynecology and obstetrics published in Germany (Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics) and joins a series of recent published studies in the field dealing with the risk factors leading to preeclampsia.
And in the process it was learned that in a previous study published in the scientific journal of endocrinology and metabolism published in the United States (Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism), it was found that women whose body mass index indicated excess weight are at twice the risk of developing preeclampsia than women who are at a normal weight. Also, in women suffering from extreme excess weight (BMI of 30), this risk increases three times compared to women with a normal weight. During the study, increased inflammatory markers were found in the blood vessels of women with preeclampsia, compared to pregnant women without it. A similar phenomenon was also found in overweight women who were found to have increased inflammatory indices. The conclusions of the study are that women who suffer from obesity and who as a result have inflammatory indicators in their bodies, are the ones who influence the development of preeclampsia. To date, the position paper of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has determined that only from a BMI above 35 there is an increase in the risk of preeclampsia, and this study clearly and unequivocally shows that the risk begins with much lower excess weight. However, not every fat woman will develop preeclampsia. The study shows that if in the general population preeclampsia appears in about 5-7%, in women with a high BMI, the danger increases to about 10%-17% and depends on the degree of excess weight.
The Israeli company Diagnostic Technologies has recently developed a new test, through which the risk of developing preeclampsia can be diagnosed early. The company was able to isolate a protein unique to the placenta, known as PP13, which is found in pregnant women and which reaches the mother's blood. Through a simple blood test, it is possible to determine the level of protein in women's blood as early as 8-13 weeks into pregnancy (in the first trimester), when a lower than normal level of the protein indicates a danger of developing the disease. Weighing the test results with the week of pregnancy, BMI, maternal age and smoking makes it possible to identify the women at risk. The advanced identification allows the attending physician to offer women at risk closer medical supervision and to examine the use of different treatments in order to avoid complications and risks arising from a pregnancy at risk. The test can be performed as part of the routine tests that the doctor recommends at the beginning of pregnancy, as part of the initial assessment of the situation, or it can be performed as an accompanying test to the biochemical tests for Down syndrome in the first trimester of pregnancy. An additional small blood sample is sufficient, which will be used for testing the PP13 protein level in the mother's blood. details about the test, can be found on the company's website or by phone 9937722-04.
Diagnostic Technologies (DTL) from Yokneam, was established in 1994 and deals with scientific developments based on the placenta as well as finding methods for early diagnosis of diseases and treatment methods to prevent their development. The company's CEO is Dr. Hamotal Meiri and the acting chairman is a privileged juror.
