Pre-eclampsia: Molecular events to biomarkers.

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Molecular Biology
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality globally.
• Current diagnostic methods for pre-eclampsia are insufficient for early detection.
• Abnormal placental development and hypoxia are key etiological factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the molecular basis of pre-eclampsia.
• To critically evaluate potential biomarkers for early diagnosis.
• To propose an effective strategy for pre-eclampsia prediction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on molecular events in pre-eclampsia.
• Evaluation of placental proteins, angiogenic markers, and cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA).
• Analysis of epigenetic markers, specifically hypermethylated RASSF1A in cffDNA.

Main Results:

• No single biomarker is currently clinically validated for pre-eclampsia prediction.
• Emerging evidence supports fetal-specific epigenetic markers like hypermethylated RASSF1A in cffDNA.
• Existing diagnostic tools lack sensitivity for early pre-eclampsia detection.

Conclusions:

• A combination biomarker approach is recommended for reliable forecasting and triaging of pre-eclampsia.
• Further research into molecular markers is essential for improving early diagnosis.
• Integrating multiple biomarkers may enhance predictive accuracy for pre-eclampsia.