Simple Blood Test Could Predict Risk of Preeclampsia During Labor

Preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, can lead to serious health risks for both mother and baby. Now, a simple blood test may offer a new way to identify women at risk for preeclampsia during labor, allowing doctors to take preventive measures and reduce complications.

Predicting Risk with a Protein Ratio

According to research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY^® 2024 annual meeting, doctors can assess the risk of preeclampsia by calculating the ratio of two blood proteins: fibrinogen and albumin. This fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), found in routine blood tests done when women in labor enter the hospital, provides valuable insights into a patient’s risk.

Fibrinogen plays a role in blood clotting and inflammation, while albumin helps maintain fluid balance and transport essential substances throughout the body. Preeclampsia disrupts the balance of these proteins. A higher FAR often indicates increased inflammation, infection, or a serious health condition, and the study found a strong correlation between higher FAR values and the likelihood of developing preeclampsia.

Study Findings and Implications

Researchers analyzed the data of over 2,600 women who gave birth. They found that:

• Patients with a FAR of at least 0.1 upon hospital admission had a 24% chance of developing any degree of preeclampsia.
• For patients with a FAR above 0.3, this risk rose to over 41%.

Lead author Lucy Shang, a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, emphasized the importance of assessing FAR for all pregnant women, especially those at higher risk—including Black women and those with high blood pressure or obesity.

“While FAR has been associated with other inflammatory conditions, its specific application to preeclampsia and preeclampsia with severe symptoms has not been reported in a group this large and racially diverse. Our study shows that FAR can be a predictive tool that gives anesthesiologists and obstetricians a new method for assessing a laboring mom’s risk of developing preeclampsia when they are admitted to the hospital.”

Lucy Shang, B.A., lead author of the study and medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York

Early Intervention and Risk Reduction

By identifying women at risk, doctors can take proactive steps. These may include:

• More frequent blood pressure checks
• Additional lab tests
• Early placement of an epidural for pain management for women at risk for severe preeclampsia

Learn More About Preeclampsia and Your Risk

Preeclampsia is a serious condition that requires careful monitoring and management. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors and the steps you can take to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.