Finding a New Way to Detect Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder in Pregnancy

Topic: Finding a New Way to Detect Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder in Pregnancy

Placenta accreta spectrum disorder is a condition that occurs when the placenta penetrates the uterine wall too deeply. Once it does this, it has trouble detaching from the uterus once the child is born. This condition may lead to a large amount of blood loss during the pregnancy and delivery, putting both the mother and baby at risk. Luckily, researchers are finding a new way to detect placenta accreta spectrum disorder in pregnancy.

Early Detection of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder

Researchers from UCLA and Cedars-Sinai have found a new way to detect placenta accreta spectrum disorder. Although placenta accreta spectrum disorder is a rare condition that occurs in less than 0.5% of pregnancies, it is very serious and can be potentially life-threatening.

The current method of diagnosing placenta accreta spectrum disorder is the use of an ultrasound and a thorough assessment of the mother’s pregnancy history. For example, factors such as a prior cesarean birth and a history of placenta previa can be strong indicators of an increased risk for placenta accreta spectrum disorder. However, those factors by themselves are still not reliable enough to detect anything but the most severe cases of placenta accreta spectrum disorder.

The new blood test developed by researchers may be conducted as early as the first trimester, making it a preferred method for detecting placenta accreta spectrum disorder. It uses NanoVelcro Chip technology and can detect specific cells, in this case placenta cells. These cells are referred to as trophoblasts, and an abnormally high count of them in the blood or a cluster of them suggests a high risk for the development of placenta accreta disorder, offering plenty of time for medical professionals to intervene as needed and monitor the situation.

Key Takeaway

Researchers have developed an interesting and new way to detect placenta accreta spectrum disorder in pregnancies as early as the first trimester. This method supplants other methods that were not proven to be reliable except in the most severe of cases. However, using NanoVelcro Chip technology, researchers are now able to detect large amounts or clusters of trophoblasts, which signal a high risk for the development of placenta accreta spectrum disorder in pregnant women. This discovery can help mitigate the effects of placenta accreta spectrum disorder, which can be serious and potentially life-threatening. Ways to refine the test further are currently being explored.

Topic Discussed: Finding a New Way to Detect Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder in Pregnancy