California researchers devise treatment for deadly pregnancy condition
SFGATE • • health
Key Points:
- Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have developed a new treatment targeting the root cause of preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication linked to high levels of the protein sFlt-1 produced by a malfunctioning placenta.
- The treatment involves a monoclonal antibody that binds to the problematic protein, combined with a filtration machine that removes it from the blood, showing a 17% reduction in protein levels and associated blood pressure decreases in a small trial of 16 women.
- Participants in the study were able to delay premature birth by a median of 10 days, potentially reducing risks to infants born early due to preeclampsia.
- While the initial results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for larger, controlled clinical trials to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this approach.
- Experts note this treatment represents a novel strategy by directly addressing the disease mechanism rather than only managing symptoms, offering hope for improved outcomes in preeclampsia cases.
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