Test detects pregnancy complication - US study

[MaineDem]

CHICAGO, Jan. 4 — Testing for a protein in the urine of pregnant women accurately predicts whether they will develop preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that affects one in 20 U.S. pregnancies, a study said Tuesday.

The finding may pave the way for a simple screening test that could allow doctors to treat the condition before it develops into eclampsia, an uncontrollable rise in blood pressure that threatens the life of the mother and her fetus, researchers said.

...

Eclampsia, in which blood vessels feeding the placenta constrict instead of expanding as they should, is one of the world's leading causes of maternal and infant mortality.

http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/reuters01-04-110637.asp?t=renew&vts=1420051132

[LynzM]

1. I thought that this was standard?

Are there doctors who do not routinely screen for protein in urine during pregnancy?

[MaineDem]

3. Maybe they weren't screening for preeclampsia

I don't know.

[Verve]

4. I think every doctor does but I don't think they've ever connected it to

this disorder before. They're checking your urine for all sorts of things: high gluclose levels, kidney infections etc.
I may be mistaken but I've never heard of a solid test to screen for preclampsia before. I think they've usually just looked at your history and medical info to try to guess if you're at risk.

[LynzM]

6. Ah, that's a good point.

So they used to just look at protein for the sake of protein, or other risk factors, but they've now tied it to preeclampsia? Good to know, and that makes more sense!

[Ms_Mary]

7. I always thought that was the main reason they looked for protien in urine

but my son was born in 99, so maybe my memory is a bit fuzzy. I do know I read many times that it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

[booksenkatz]

8. My son was born in '99 also

And they were all over me for the protein screen because I'd developed alllll the awful symptoms of high bp without the high bp! Protein was always fine, bp was always perfect, yet I had blown up like a balloon and was almost unable to walk due to swollen feet that looked like rubber gloves with air in them, about to pop! I couldn't wear shoes the 3rd trimester, thank goodness my boy was born in August (we live in Michigan). I was always 125 lbs. at 5'7" and I gained a total of 63 lbs. in that pregnancy. Sheesh! I had the tunnel vision as well, another symptom. Anyway, yeah, this article surprised me as well.

(My 5 1/2-year-old little liberal boy says howdy to yours!)
:hi:

[Ms_Mary]

9. Hi!

I was pretty fortunate. I felt good during pregnancy expcept for developing PUPPS, a very itchy pregnancy rash that affects less than 1%. Lucky me!

[MissB]

5. I thought it was standard too

I thought looking for proteins in the urine was just the normal thing to do.

[Verve]

2. Wow! That's great! Have known some women who developed this. Very scary

Did anyone see the old ER episode where Dr. Mark Greene was delivering a baby and the mother had preclampsia? What a tear jerker! I cried my eyes out. Come to think of it? I was probably pregnant myself when I saw it. Hormones and Fear. Not a good combo.