Irish scientists behind radical new test for pre-eclampsia

A groundbreaking test to diagnose pre-eclampsia in pregnant women is being developed by a team of Irish scientists, The Independent says.

Inform Bioscience has signed a deal with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in the US to roll out the simple urine test that could revolutionise pre-natal care by detecting the condition at 26 weeks.

Charles Garvey, chief executive, hopes that the state-of-the-art technology – a biomarker which will identify a specific type of protein in the podocytes, a part of the kidney – will be ready for market within 18 months.

"At the moment doctors don't have any way of identifying women who have pre-eclampsia until the symptoms begin to manifest," he said.

"When in the pregnancy it happens is unpredictable as well. Some women get it as early as 26 weeks while others will get it just before their due date.

High blood pressure, protein in the woman's urine and fluid retention are all signs of the potentially fatal disease, which can result in seizure, stroke and coma.

It kills up to 80,000 women and 500,000 infants worldwide each year. Infants can also suffer cerebral palsy, blindness, epilepsy, deafness and lung conditions.

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter