Pre-eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early detection, ideally in the first trimester, enables preventive measures that significantly reduce its incidence and severity.

A European multicentre study in BJOG has validated a new predictive algorithm combining biochemical markers — PAPP-A and PlGF — with ultrasound parameters such as the uterine artery pulsatility index and mean arterial pressure.

Study results

The algorithm was evaluated in more than 12,000 pregnant women from nine European countries and demonstrated a detection rate of 92% for early-onset pre-eclampsia (before 34 weeks), with a false-positive rate of 10%. Administration of low-dose aspirin before 16 weeks reduces the incidence of early pre-eclampsia by up to 62%, according to the ASPRE trial.

Clinical implications

At Badagine we perform combined first-trimester pre-eclampsia screening as part of our 11–14-week scan. If you have questions or wish to book a specialist consultation, please contact us.