Active clinical trials for "Pre-Eclampsia"

The pathophysiology of preeclampsia (PE) is thought to be endothelial dysfunction responsible for the maternal signs of de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks. Current concepts suggest that the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation results from an imbalance of angiogenic factors. A new angiogenic factor EG-VEGF (Endocrine Gland- Derived Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) also known as Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) appears to be emerging in the pathophysiology of PE. EG-VEGF is a circulating factor which belongs to the family of prokinetics. Dr Alfaidy's MAB2 team at the Cancer and Infections Biology Laboratory (U1292 Biosanté INSERM / UGA / CEA, CEA Grenoble) demonstrated its key role in the control of key processes in placental development and provided evidence through the development of an animal model of preeclampsia. EG -VEGF is directly involved in the development of Pre-Eclampsia. Few studies have evaluated the expression of EG-VEGF in the human placenta.

Phthalates are a group of ubiquitous synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Fetal and neonatal periods are particularly susceptible to endocrine disorders, which prenatal exposure to phthalates causes. There is increasing evidence concerning the potential endocrine disrupting for phthalate exposure during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure phthalates would disrupt the level of sex hormone in pregnant women, which results in preeclampsia. The relationship of prenatal phthalate exposure with maternal and neonatal outcomes in human beings was often sex-specific associations. Because of the potentially harmful influence of prenatal phthalate exposure, steps should be taken to prevent or reduce phthalate exposure during pregnancy.

Preeclampsia (PE) affects approximately 5% of all pregnancies with 2,500 cases registered annually in Denmark. PE is characterized by incomplete modelling of the spiral arteries of the uterus, hypertension, inflammation, hypercoagulability and proteinuria. Neonatal complications and increased cardiovascular risk are common features of the syndrome. PE shares pathophysiologic features with recognized protein misfolding disorders and misfolded proteins are present in urine from women with PE. Misfolded proteins are potent activators of the contact system (CAS) which is involved in inflammation, coagulation and fibrinolysis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) regulates important fibrinolytic processes in the placenta. The oxidative milieu characterizing PE may trigger misfolding of PAI-2 which then loose inhibitory capacity, but gain CAS-activating capacity. Thus, misfolding of PAI-2 may affect the fibrinolytic system in the placenta and compromise the modelling of the spiral arteries. Moreover, misfolded PAI-2 may contribute to the hypercoagulability and the inflammatory conditions characterizing women with PE. The aim of the present study is i) to characterize CAS in women with PE, ii) to study the CAS-activating capacity of misfolded PAI-2 and iii) to develop and apply immunochemical methods for determination of native and misfolded PAI-2 in plasma.

Toxemia of pregnancy is a recognized entity for over 2000 years with its known complications and fatality. Nowadays, a most accepted terminology for the following defined syndrome is "hypertensive disorders in pregnancy" given by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) was classified as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. PIH is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the absence of other causes of elevated blood pressure (BP) (BP >140/90 mmHg measured two times with at least of 4 hour interval) in combination with generalized edema and/or proteinuria (>300 mg per 24 hrs). When there is significant proteinuria it is termed as preeclampsia; seizure or coma as a consequence of PIH is termed as eclampsia. Preeclampsia was classified into mild and severe preeclampsia. Mild eclampsia-BP >140/90 mmHg, proteinuria+, and/or mild edema of legs, Severe preeclampsia-BP >160/110 mmHg,proteinuria++ or ++++, headache, cerebral or visual disturbances, epigastric pain, impaired liver function tests and increase in serum creatinine. Proteinuria was tested using dipstick method as +=0.3 gm/L, ++=1 gm/L, and +++=3 gm/L. The pathological changes of this disease appear to be related to vascular endothelial dysfunction and its consequences (generalized vasospasm and capillary leak). Ocular involvement is common in PIH.Common symptoms are blurring of vision, photopsia, scotomas and diplopia. Visual symptoms may be the precursor of seizures.Progression of retinal changes correlates with progression of PIH and also with the fetal mortality due to similar vascular ischemic changes in placenta.Vasospastic manifestations are reversible and the retinal vessels rapidly return to normal after delivery. Ophthalmoscope should be rated next to the sphygmomanometer as an instrument of diagnostic importance in cases of PIH. Ophthalmoscopy does not only helps in diagnosing the disease but repeated observations assist in assessing the severity, progress of disease, response to treatment if any and ultimate outcome or prognosis.

"¡Que Vivan las Madres!: Venga a tener su parto al CAP" (QVLM) is a guatemalan quasi-experimental study that has been performed from January 2014 to January 2017 by the Epidemiological Research Center in Sexual and Reproductive Health (CIESAR) in Guatemala in coordination with PRONTO International and University of San Francisco, California. This project has been financed by Grands Challenges Canada' "Save Lives at Birth, A Grand Challenge for Development" partnership that includes USAID, Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs, Bill&Melinda Gates foundation, UKaid. This project has applied a stepped wedge design (SWD) over 6 zones or clusters. Each one of the zones contains from 4 to 6 communities, each one with the presence of one second level health facility (known in Spanish as CAP, Centro de Atención Permanente). These health centers are the next level in attention after home, traditional and empirical attention. Communities around the selected health centers are mostly rural and have the worst maternal health indicators in the country. These health centers are expected to have enough equipment and personnel to attend the deliveries that occur in their communities. This study was performed in Huehuetenango and Alta Verapaz districts in north Guatemala. Each one with 3 zones for a total of 6 zones. The study follows a Stepped Wedge Design, in which all 6 zones are eventually intervened, but at different regular periods of time (each period is 4 months long). This project applies a package of 3 simultaneous interventions in each zone with the purpose of increasing institutional deliveries and improving deliveries attention in public health centers. This intervention plan has been implemented in a pilot study reported in (Kestler et. al, 2013).

Pre-eclampsia is a heterogeneous multisystem disorder that complicates 2-8% of pregnancies and remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Pre-eclampsia is defined as new onset of hypertension (defined as a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg and a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg on at least two different recordings taken at least 4-6 h apart and less than 7 days apart, using an appropriate cuff) and substantial proteinuria (defined as excretion of protein ≥300 mg in 24 h or a protein concentration ≥ 300 mg/L or ≥ "1 +" on dipstick in at least two random urine samples taken at least 4-6 h apart but no more than 7 days apart) at or after 20 weeks of gestation. Pre-eclampsia only occurs in the presence of placenta and is resolved by delivery of the same. However, the underlying causes of the disease remain largely unknown.

Preterm birth (PTB), preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD) constitutes the main causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality and are called "Great Obstetrical Syndromes". Algorithms to predict those outcomes have been developed by combining maternal characteristics (history, age, BMI, blood pressure), biochemical (sFlt-1, β-hCG, PlGF, AFP) and sonographic (uterine artery Doppler, 3D of placenta, cervical length, nasal bone measurement, nuchal translucency) markers. Another prospective observational study ("PREDICTION study" NCT 02189148) is also ongoing, which aims to validate those algorithms at the first trimester of pregnancy. Recent data suggest that repeating the same measurements later in pregnancy could improve the detection rates, allowing closer monitoring of high-risk patients and potential therapeutics under investigation. The current study (PREDICTION2) is an ancillary study of PREDICTION and aims at validating the use of these markers in a combined iterative manner in the prediction of preeclampsia and other obstetrical outcomes.

Prospective, observational, monocentric, non-interventional study.

A total of eight quadrants of standard lung US examination was performed to all pregnant women with preeclampsia within the scope of the study by the same anesthesiologist, dividing each hemithorax into four regions through the parasternal, anterior axillary, posterior axillary vertical lines, and the horizontal line assumed to pass under the nipple. The resulting images were stored in digital media. A Lung US examination was performed once for an average of 5-10 minutes. The presence of B lines was investigated in the examination. The case was defined as interstitial edema when the B lines, which are defined as vertical linear hyperechoic reverberation artifacts representing the edematous interlobular septa/alveoli, extend posteriorly from below the pleural line and moving in sync with lung movements, are found in two or more lung areas. B-lines were determined for each case and reported in standard form in terms of number and morphology. The diagnostic accuracy of B lines was determined with the artificial intelligence supported SmartAlpha Rievi 1300 software program. B-lines validated by artificial intelligence assisted algorithm in all stored digital images were reported blindly by another anesthesiologist experienced in lung US. The clinical features, laboratory parameters, and intraoperative hemodynamic data of the cases were recorded to be evaluated in terms of relationship with lung US data. We predict that the application of lung US with artificial intelligence software will provide an opportunity to quickly evaluate the clinic of preeclamptic pregnant women who are frequently operated on in emergency conditions.

To determine if women can understand the instructions, carry out the test, and interpret the test results. Women will be recruited to complete a test instruction and comprehension assessment and a usability assessment.