Unknown and unexpected: Preeclampsia
Up to five percent of all central European women experience preeclampsia from the 20th week of pregnancy onwards - formerly also known as pregnancy poisoning. It is regarded as one of the main causes of maternal and child morbidity and mortality due to pregnancy. In addition, a high proportion of all preterm births are due to preeclampsia.
It is therefore important to know the individual risk of the pregnant woman at an early stage. If the risk is high, the affected person is closely monitored. In addition, the rapid and reliable diagnosis of an impending preeclampsia is of great importance in order to be able to act appropriately.
Preeclampsia is considered to be a risk factor:
- previous pregnancy with pre-eclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP
- Preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP in the family
- chronic pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or autoimmune disease
- multiple pregnancy
- Pregnant women of African or African-American origin
- young primipara
- Pregnant women over 40 years of age
- Overweight (BMI over 35)
- Chronic hypertension >140/90 mmHg
- protein in urine
- low PAPP-A value
- increased risk after pre-eclampsia screening
Two laboratory methods can provide important information. We offer both.
Screening
The screening is performed as part of the classic first trimester screening between the 11th and 14th week of pregnancy. It determines the risk of preeclampsia occurring later in pregnancy (> 20 weeks). PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A) and PlGF (placental growth factor) are measured and the risk of preeclampsia is then calculated taking into account further information, e.g. blood pressure of the pregnant women and ultrasound findings.
The risk calculation is possible on the homepage of FMF London (free of charge).
In a study it was shown that with a false positive rate of 10 percent almost 90 percent of early onset preclampsias and 47 percent of late onset preclampsias can be detected.
The preeclampsia screening can be done with our request form
Prenatal Risk Analysis.
This examination is not a service of the statutory health insurance and is therefore offered as an individual health service.
Diagnostic
In addition to the sonographic procedure (Doppler ultrasound of the uterine arteries), the sFlt-1/PlGF quotient enables the diagnosis of preeclampsia four to five weeks before the onset of clinical signs. The ratio between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors in the maternal blood is determined. For this purpose, sFlt-1 (soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1) and PlGF (placental growth factor) are measured. With this method, preeclampsia can be detected from the 20th SSW onwards.
The offer is aimed at...
...pregnant women with an increased risk of preeclampsia. In most cases, the sFlt-1/PlGF quotient determined by us invalidates the fears of an imminent preeclampsia and thus provides many pregnant women with a justified reassurance for their further pregnancy. In cases where preeclampsia is imminent, the quotient will indicate the event with a high degree of sensitivity in good time and will be able to provide affected women with adequate treatment.
Preeclampsia diagnostics can be billed as a curative benefit for patients with statutory health insurance and private health insurance.