Welcome
to Home Health UK’s News page with all the health news stories
we think you might be interested in from the month of May 2007.
In
this part of the site we aim to provide you with some of the latest
health information regarding diagnosis of various illnesses and
medical conditions. We will also aim to tell you about any developments
in any of our current products and any future products we believe
we may sell.
Remember,
if there is anything you would like to see on this page or elsewhere on
the site you can fill out our feedback
form.
This month we would like to tell you more about a new test on trial for pregnant women.
Home Test for Pre-Eclampsia
St Richard's Hospital in Chichester is testing a home 'spit' test for mums to be at risk of pre-eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia is the most common of the serious complications of pregnancy. It is caused by a defect in the placenta, and in the early stages is symptom-less. Pre-eclampsia is currently only detectable by regular antenatal checks on the mother's blood pressure and urine.
In its widest forms, pre-eclampsia affects about one in 10 pregnancies overall and one in 50 pregnancies severely. Pre-eclampsia can be very serious and is still responsible for the deaths of between three and five women a year as well as between 500 and 600 babies. It is potentially life-threatening to mother and baby if allowed to develop and progress undetected.
1000 women in Chichester will try the test that reads saliva for tell-tale markers of impending kidney problems that could indicate pre-eclampsia. The Chemistry and Industry reports that the test is expected to be more reliable than traditional blood pressure and urine checks.
The aim is to develop a colour-coded 'traffic light' detection kit for expectant mothers to use at home. A red light would indicate that high levels of urate had been found in the saliva and so the pregnant woman would need to contact her GP for further tests.
Brian Owen Smith, the developer of the test said that he hopes it will add to the existing checks for pre-eclampsia.
The results from the hospital are expected early next year.
NEWS HISTORY
2007
March/April 2007
February 2007
January 2007
2006
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
|
