Researchers may be one step closer to identifying women at risk of preeclampsia–a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure that can cause a number of complications, including problems with kidneys and other organs. 

While there is promising research, we cannot reliably predict who will develop preeclampsia during their pregnancy. However, Alexandria Betz, DO, maternal-fetal medicine fellow, working in the lab of Mark Santillan MD, PhD (obstetrics and gynecology) in collaboration with the lab of Gary Pierce, PhD (health and human physiology) found promising results in their recent study, “Plasma endothelin-1, arterial stiffness, and mean arterial pressure in the first trimester are predictive of the diagnosis of preeclampsia." 

Current research shows that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent blood vessel constrictor, and carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (CFPWV), a noninvasive measure of blood vessel stiffness, are both elevated at the time preeclampsia is diagnosed. Betz’s project showed ET-1, arterial stiffness, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the first trimester are predictive of preeclampsia. In addition, these results show that the blood vessel function and ET-1 abnormalities occur very early in pregnancy in those who develop preeclampsia, a disease of the late 2nd and 3rd trimester, well before symptoms are apparent.

Betz presented her research at the 2018 Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas and received an award for best oral presentation.

As an American Heart Association Research Fellow, Betz’s work is supported by the American Heart Association’s Strategically Focused Research Network Grant. The grant was awarded to the University of Iowa in 2015 to study preeclampsia.