Genetic mutations have been identified that increase a woman’s risk developing a dangerous blood pressure problem during pregnancy, researchers said today.
The genes have been linked to the condition pre-eclampsia and suggest it is linked to problems with the immune system.
Dr John Atkinson of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, USA, and colleagues studied 250 pregnant women with the autoimmune diseases lupus or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.
They predicted that problems with the immune system trigger many cases of pre-eclampsia.
Forty of the women experienced pre-eclampsia. Seven of the 40 women had mutations in at least one of three genes linked to the body’s immune response to injury and infection. Such mutations were also seen in women with preeclampsia but without autoimmune disease – five in 59 women.
Dr Atkinson says these particular genes are associated with the rare but dangerous immune disorder, atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome.
"Pre-eclampsia seems to involve multiple hits," he said. "First you may have a genetic predisposition for small blood vessels, which can worsen problems with inflammation. Then maybe you have lupus or another autoimmune condition. Then along comes pregnancy, which is a major source of stress on the organs.
"We’re going to need to confirm these links in a larger study, but if they are validated it may be possible to develop better ways to identify and treat women at risk," he believes.
The research is published in PLoS Medicine.
The authors point out that an immune-suppressing drug, eculizumab, is currently being tested for atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome. It may be possible to adapt it for women at risk of preeclampsia, identified via genetic screening.
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