Simple Urine Test Detects Preeclampsia in Expectant Mothers

Preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and increased protein in urine during pregnancy with no known cause, is a relatively uncommon complication but may lead to preterm delivery and other dangerous side-effects.  Elizabeth Rodabaugh experienced several just days before giving birth to her son, including tell-tale elevated blood pressure, headaches, and severe vomiting which led to hospitalization and IV drips. Her symptoms vanished after giving birth to her son Gus ten weeks early, who weighed just 3 pounds.

Researchers at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital wondered whether expectant mothers’ preeclampsia could be detected early during pregnancy, and have developed a simple test to find out. The test takes only three minutes, and involves a sample of the mother’s urine mixed with red dye. If the drop spreads when dropped onto a sheet of test paper, it signifies preeclampsia. A study the researchers published in the July 16, 2014 issue of Science Translational Medicine found the red-dot test to be 86% accurate in diagnosing preeclampsia after testing 346 women who were anywhere from seven to more than 40 weeks pregnant—results that were better and faster than existing biochemical tests. The researchers hope that the test will help manage and prevent preeclampsia development by detecting it early in pregnancy.

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