A groundbreaking preeclampsia study could transform care for moms and babies
A Nature study published on December 11, 2024, is offering new hope for managing preeclampsia, a condition that affects 5% to 8% of pregnancies in the United States and is responsible for 15% of premature deliveries. While advancements in care have improved outcomes, this new research introduces a treatment that could transform how preeclampsia is managed in the future.
Preeclampsia—marked by dangerously high blood pressure—can often be asymptomatic, making routine prenatal monitoring essential. Detecting and managing the condition early significantly improves outcomes for moms and babies, as experts like Dr. Sarosh Rana emphasize. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to organ dysfunction, stroke, seizures, and other life-threatening complications. Until now, the only definitive “cure” has been delivering the baby.
Now, researchers have uncovered a promising path forward.
Related: What is preeclampsia? Symptoms, causes + facts every pregnant mama needs to know
A potential breakthrough treatment
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are testing a novel treatment using mRNA—the same technology behind COVID-19 vaccines—to address one of preeclampsia’s root causes. In pregnant mice, scientists delivered an mRNA injection directly to the placenta, prompting it to produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that improves blood flow to the placenta.
The results were promising: a single injection resolved maternal high blood pressure for the remainder of the pregnancy. Even more encouraging, the treated mice showed healthier placental development and better fetal outcomes.
What this means for the future
While these results are exciting, the treatment is still in its earliest stages. “There’s a lot of work to be done really making sure this is a safe technology as we work to scale this up,” Kelsey Swingle, lead author and doctoral candidate at Penn, told Live Science.
The study has clear limitations: it has only been tested in mice, and human pregnancies are far more complex. Rigorous safety testing will be essential to ensure the treatment is effective and safe for mothers and babies. Future research will focus on translating these results into human clinical trials.
Related: How a night nanny helped me heal from postpartum preeclampsia
The bottom line
This study offers a reason for cautious optimism. If proven safe and effective, this treatment could transform how preeclampsia is managed—giving moms a chance to carry pregnancies longer and improving outcomes for both moms and babies.
Sources:
New study on preeclampsia. Nature. 2024. “Placenta-tropic VEGF mRNA lipid nanoparticles ameliorate murine pre-eclampsia”
New preeclampsia injection. Live Science. 2024. “New mRNA injection is step forward in ‘quest’ to find preeclampsia cure.”
What is preeclampsia? Cleveland Clinic. “Preeclampsia: Toxemia, Causes, Symptoms & Risk Factors.”
Relationship between preeclampsia and hypertension. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2020. “Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia.”
Preeclampsia prevention. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2022. “Low-Dose Aspirin Use for the Prevention of Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality.”
