Pre-eclampsia - Eclampsia

Project Details

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is the most common serious medical disorder of human pregnancy. Particularly in their first pregnancy, pregnant women can suffer from high blood pressure, kidney dysfunction leading to leakage of protein into the urine, swelling of hands, feet and face, and, in severe cases, dizziness, headaches and difficulties with vision. This condition is called pre-eclampsia. If left untreated, it can lead to convulsions and other life-threatening problems for both mother and baby. Pre-eclampsia only occurs when a woman is pregnant, and currently, the only cure for it is to end the pregnancy, even if the baby is not yet ready for birth.

In Australia, mild pre-eclampsia occurs in 5-10% of pregnancies and severe pre-eclampsia in 1-2% of pregnancies. Pre-eclampsia and complications associated with this condition account for 15% of direct maternal mortality and 10% of perinatal mortality. Pre-eclampsia is the indication for 20% of labour inductions and 15% of Caesarean sections. It also accounts for 5-10% of preterm deliveries. Worldwide, pre-eclampsia and its complications kill many tens of thousands of women and their babies each year.

Researchers

Collaborators

  • Prof Christine East, Monash University
  • Prof Eric Moses, University of Western Australia
  • Assoc Prof Joanne Said, Sunshine Hospital
  • Clinical Assoc Prof Fabricio da Silva Costa, Monash Ultrasound
  • Dr Padma Murthi, Monash Hospital

Funding

The research actiivities of the Pregnancy Research Centre (PRC) are funded by a variety of intramural and extramural sources.  Since its formation in 1993, the PRC has secured over $15 Million in peer-reviewed, competetive national and international funding sources.

Research Outcomes

A recent list of publications relating to Pre-Eclampsia & Eclampsia research in the PRC

E Holanda Moura SB, Park F, Murthi P, Martins WP, Kane SC, Williams P, Hyett J, Silva Costa FD. TNF-R1 as a first trimester marker for prediction of pre-eclampsia. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2016; 29(6):897-903

Hu B, Yang J, Huang Q, Bao J, Brennecke SP, Liu H. Cyclosporin A significantly improves preeclampsia signs and suppresses inflammation in a rat model. Cytokine. 2016; 81:77-81

Kaartokallio T, Lokki AI, Peterson H, Kivinen K, Hiltunen L, Salmela E, Lappalainen T, Maanselkä P, Heino S, Knuutila S, Sayed A, Poston L, Brennecke SP, Johnson MP, Morgan L, Moses EK, Kere J, Laivuori H.  Preeclampsia does not share common risk alleles in 9p21 with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. Annals of Medicine. In Press. (Accepted 3.4.16)

Mundim GJ, Paschoini MC, Araujo Junior R, Da Silva Costa F, Rodrigues Junior V. Assessment of angiogenesis modulators in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia: a case-control study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016; 293(2):369-75.

Murthi P, Yong HEJ, Ngyuen TPH, Ellery S, Singh H, Rahman R, Dickinson H, Walker DW, Davies-Tuck M, Wallace EM, Ebeling PR. Role of the placental Vitamin D receptor in modulating feto-placental growth in Fetal growth restriction and Preeclampsia-affected pregnancies. Frontiers in Physiology. 2016; 7, 43, 1-7

Zeisler H, Chantraine F, Vatish M, Staff AC, Sennström M, Olovsson M, Brennecke SP, Stepan H, Allegranza D, Dilba P, Schoedl M, Hund M, Verlohren S. Predictive Value of the sFlt-1:PlGF Ratio in Women with Suspected Preeclampsia. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2016; 374(1):13-22

Kane SC, Dennis AT. Doppler assessment of uterine blood flow in pre-eclampsia: a review. Hypertension in Pregnancy. 2015; 34(4):400-421

Oliveira OP, Araujo Junior E, Lima J, Salustiano UMA; Ruano R, Martins WP, da Silva Costa F. Flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery and endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women with preeclampsia: a case control study. Minerva Ginecologica. 2015; 67(4):307-313

Pratt A, Da Silva Costa F, Borg AJ, Kalionis B, Keogh R, Murthi P. Placenta-derived angiogenic proteins and their contribution to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Angiogenesis. 2015; 18(2):115-123

Stepan H, Herraiz I, Schlembach D, Verlohren S, Brennecke S, Chantraine F, Klein E,  Lapaire O, Llurba E, Ramoni A, Vatish M, Wertaschnigg D, Galindo A. Implementation of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction and diagnosis of preeclampsia in singleton pregnancies: guidance for clinical practice. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2015; 45(3):241-246

Yong HEJ, Melton PE, Johnson MP, Freed KA, Kalionis B, Murthi P, Brennecke SP, Keogh RJ, Moses EK. Genome-wide transcriptome directed pathway analysis of maternal pre-eclampsia susceptibility genes. PloS One. 2015; 10(5):ee0128321

Yong HEJ, Murthi P, Wong MH, Kalionis B, Brennecke SP, Keogh RJ. Anti-angiogenic collagen fragment arresten is increased from 16 weeks' gestation in pre-eclamptic plasma. Placenta. 36(11):1300-9.

Yong HEJ, Murthi P, Wong MH, Kalionis B, Brennecke SP, Keogh RJ. Anti-angiogenic collagen fragment arresten is increased from 16 weeks' gestation in pre-eclamptic plasma. Placenta. 2015; 36(11):1300-9. Arsala L, da Silva Costa FD, Murthi P. The Association between maternal vitamin D status in gestation and Pre-Eclampsia. Journal of Pregnancy and Child Health. 2014; 1(1):1000107

Gurgel Alves JA, Pracianode Sousa PC, Bezera Maia E Holanda Moura S, Kane S, da Silva Costa F. First trimester maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler analysis for prediction of pre-eclampsia. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gyneacology. 2014, 44(4):411-418 Huang Q, Liu L, Hu B, Di X, Brennecke SP, Liu H. Decreased seizure threshold in an Eclampsia-like model induced in pregnant rats with Lipopolysaccharide and Pentylenetetrazol treatments. PlosOne. 2014; 9(2):e89333

Kane SC, Da Silva Costa F, Brennecke SP. New directions in the prediction of pre-eclampsia. Review Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2014; 54(2):101-7

Kane SC, Da Silva Costa F, Brennecke SP. Re: New directions in the prediction of pre-eclampsia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2014; 54(4):395-396

Loset M, Johnson MP, Melton PE, Ang W, Huang R-C, Mori TA, Beilin LJ, Pennell C, Roten LT, Iversen A-C, Austgulen R, East CE, Blangero J, Brennecke SP, Moses EK. Preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease share genetic risk factors on chromosome 2q22. Pregnancy Hypertension. 2014; 4(2):178-85

Yong HEJ, Murthi P, Borg A, Kalionis B, Moses EK, Brennecke SP, Keogh RJ. Increased decidual mRNA expression levels of candidate maternal pre-eclampsia susceptibility genes are associated with clinical severity. Placenta. 2014; 35(2):117-124

Research Publications

Zeisler H, Chantraine F, Vatish M, Staff AC, Sennström M, Olovsson M, Brennecke SP, Stepan H, Allegranza D, Dilba P, Schoedl M, Hund M, Verlohren S. Predictive Value of the sFlt-1:PlGF Ratio in Women with Suspected Preeclampsia. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2016; 374(1):13-22

Stepan H, Herraiz I, Schlembach D, Verlohren S, Brennecke S, Chantraine F, Klein E, Lapaire O, Llurba E, Ramoni A, Vatish M, Wertaschnigg D, Galindo A. Implementation of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio for prediction and diagnosis of preeclampsia in singleton pregnancies: guidance for clinical practice. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2015; 45(3):241-246

Huang Q, Liu L, Hu B, Di X, Brennecke SP, Liu H. Decreased seizure threshold in an Eclampsia-like model induced in pregnant rats with Lipopolysaccharide and Pentylenetetrazol treatments. 2014; PlosOne. 9(2):e89333

Johnson MP, Brennecke SP, East CE, Dyer TD, Roten LT, Proffitt JM, Melton PE, Fenstad MH, Aalto-Viljakainen Tia, Mäkikallio K, Heinonen S, Kajantie E, Kere J, and Laivuori H for the FINNPEC Study Group, Austgulen R, Blangero J, Moses EK. Genetic dissection of the preeclampsia susceptibility locus on chromosome 2q22 reveals shared novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Molecular Human Reproduction. 2013; 9(7):423-37.

Johnson MP, Brennecke SP, East CE, Göring HHH, Kent JW Jr, Dyer TD, Said JM, Roten LT, Iversen A-C, Abraham LJ, Heinonen S, Kajantie E, Kere J, Kivinen K, Pouta A and Laivuori H for the FINNPEC Study Group, Austgulen R, Blangero J, Moses EK. Genome-wide association scan identifies a risk locus for preeclampsia on 2q14, near the Inhibin, beta B gene. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(3):e33666.

Research Group

Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Research Centre



Faculty Research Themes

Child Health

School Research Themes

Child Health in Medicine, Women's Health, Infectious Diseases and Immunity



Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health

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