Test to diagnose hypertensive disorders in pregnant women

SRL Diagnostics has recently introduced a breakthrough medical test to diagnose hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at its Gurgaon laboratory. The lab claimed it was the first of its kind biomarker Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) to meet the rising threat of hypertensive disorders in expecting mothers. 

Placental Growth Factor is used for accurate diagnosis and prognosis of pre-eclampsia, a major cause of maternal, foetal, neonatal morbidity and mortality. The new test will help gynaecologists to diagnose pre-eclampsia early. 

Most cases of pre-eclampsia develop in healthy women bearing their first child. 

Pre-eclampsia can happen as early as 20 weeks of gestation and can only be resolved by delivery of the baby. However, late diagnosis of the condition can lead to long term maternal complications both in mother and the child.

“Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome characterised by hypertension and protien in urine. It is suspected in around 10-12% of pregnancies in India. Although the exact cause of this disorder is not known, it is widely accepted that placenta is the source of this condition, and it can also affect the mother’s kidney, liver, and brain,” said Dr B R Das, president, Research and Innovation, SRL Diagnostics. He added that earlier there was no single test to diagnose or predict the outcome of pre-eclampsia. The test is priced at Rs 2850. 

As per the industry findings, it is postulated that the incidence of pre-eclampsia is around 10-12% amongst Indian women irrespective of zones, against an incidence of 5-8% in developed countries. 

Pre-eclampsia accounts for around 70% of all cases of hypertension in pregnancy.