Infant Viability in Severe Preeclampsia: Management Strategies and the Potential Role of Calprotectin-A Narrative

Oala Ioan Emilian1, Adrian Apostol2, Viviana Mihaela Ivan2

  • 1Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine, "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology, 540142 Targu Mures, Romania.

PubMed

Insights

Preeclampsia (PE) monitoring requires multidisciplinary care to improve fetal viability. While elevated calprotectin suggests inflammation in PE, its role as a biomarker for fetal viability needs further research.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious pregnancy complication characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.
  • Defective placentation and endothelial dysfunction are key factors in PE development.
  • Calprotectin is being investigated as a potential, though not yet standard, screening marker for PE.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review monitoring strategies for severe preeclampsia to enhance neonatal viability.
  • To explore methods for safely prolonging pregnancy in PE cases.
  • To evaluate calprotectin as a potential biomarker for preeclampsia and its impact on fetal well-being.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current monitoring methods for severe preeclampsia.
  • Analysis of multidisciplinary management approaches in tertiary care settings.
  • Evaluation of cardiotocography, Doppler ultrasound, and placental histology in PE management.
  • Assessment of calprotectin levels in relation to PE and fetal outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Multidisciplinary management by maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology specialists is crucial for improving fetal/neonatal viability.
  • Cardiotocography and Doppler ultrasound are indicated based on PE severity and intrauterine growth restriction.
  • Elevated calprotectin levels in PE suggest an inflammatory component, but its direct role in fetal viability is unproven.

Conclusions:

  • Early-stage preeclampsia poses significant risks to maternal and neonatal health, impacting neonatal viability.
  • Further research is essential to clarify the role of calprotectin in PE development and its relevance to fetal viability.
  • Calprotectin shows potential as an inflammation marker in PE, but requires more studies to confirm its utility as a biomarker for fetal viability.