The Clinical Utility of Maternal Serum Apelin assay in Pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia is the most common serious pregnancy complication, affecting 3-7% of all pregnancies. It is a hypertensive syndrome, which if left untreated can develop into Eclampsia, an extremely dangerous and often fatal condition characterized by blood-clots and seizures. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension), fluid retention (oedema) and excessive protein levels in the urine (proteinuria). These symptoms are not evident during the early stages of pregnancy and as such preeclampsia can be difficult to diagnose. It is only detectable by regular antenatal checks on maternal blood pressure and urine, and as such women without access to adequate healthcare services are particularly at risk. The aetiology of preeclampsia is multifactorial including vasospasm, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and improper angiogenesis. Recent research has indicated that the poor development of placenta may be responsible, preventing the transfer of nutrients from mother to baby that are essential to its healthy development.