Predict pre-eclampsia
May 11, 2012
A STUDY published in the Journal
of Reproductive Immunology by
researchers at Sydney University has
uncovered a possible predictor for
pre-eclampsia.
The condition affects around 5,000
to 10,000 Aussie women every year,
developing usually in the last three
months of pregnancy, and causing
high blood pressure, kidney and liver
damage and severe blood changes.
The mother’s immune system
also appears to attack the fetus.
“Our study looked at the thymus
of the fetus, a structure which sits
behind the baby’s breastbone and
is known as the ‘cradle’ of an
important set of white blood cells
called thymus-derived lymphocytes
or T cells,” said Prof Ralph Nanan,
senior author of the study.
“Surprisingly we found the thymus
of babies whose mother developed
pre-eclampsia was significantly
smaller than in babies of healthy
pregnant women,” Nanan added.
Interestingly, this study also
found that these changes were
obvious mid pregnancy, long before
the mother developed any signs of
pre-eclampsia.
“This is a very interesting finding
as the thymus plays a central role in
shaping the child’s immune system
and protecting it against the
development of allergies,
autoimmune disease and cancers
later in life,” he added.
The researchers are now
following 1,200 pregnant women to
confirm the findings, with the longterm
prospect of developing a test
for pre-eclampsia, and they are also
looking into to the short and longterm
effects that early thymus
changes have on the child’s
immune system and on the
development of immune diseases.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 11 May 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 11 May 12
