New tests for pregnant women to rule out medical condition
- May 18, 2016
- EmmaArnold
Blood tests to rule out pre-eclampsia in pregnant women have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The two blood tests will help to rule out pre-eclampsia in women between their 20th and 35th week of pregnancy which is usually when the condition can develop.
Although the tests won't be able to diagnose the condition, they will help to rule it out by detecting changes in the blood which can mean the placenta isn't developing properly and this can lead to slow growth in the unborn baby.
The growing baby receives less oxygen and fewer nutrients than it should, which can affect development so diagnosing the condition is necessary.
Hannah Bottomley, clinical negligence solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
Any additional testing which can help rule out, and therefore hopefully try and help identify where further investigations are needed, a condition such as pre-eclampsia can only be welcomed as far as I am concerned.
Pre-eclampsia can have a devastating impact on a family resulting in restricted fetal growth but, in severe cases, can lead to significant maternal harm and in very severe cases, even death.
Any small measure to improve the medical profession’s understanding of this condition and potentially lower the rates of incidence can therefore only ever be welcomed.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has welcomed these new tests as it will enable those who don't have the condition to receive the care that is appropriate to them.
The only treatment of severe cases of pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby straight away which can lead to the baby being born prematurely.