CAPE study (Coagulation Activation in PreEclampsia)
Preeclampsia (defined as new hypertension presenting after 20 weeks gestation with significant proteinuria) is a serious complication of pregnancy with potentially life-threatening consequences for both mother and baby. It is a major public health issue and a leading cause of death in the UK/Ireland. At present, preeclampsia diagnosis relies on error-prone techniques, furthermore, the delivery of the preterm infant is the only curative treatment. However, preterm delivery is associated with a significant risk of fetal morbidity and mortality, especially in preterm births and even minor improvements in length of gestation at delivery confer significant survival benefits, therefore every day in utero counts. Using the PALADINTM platform, we have discovered candidate biomarkers that distinguish patients with preeclampsia from healthy pregnant women and that have the potential to calculate the risk of developing severe preeclampsia and whose preterm delivery can be delayed. Currently, we are working on translating this research to an easier to use, plasma-based platform.