Preeclampsia affects between 3% and 8% of global births, raising blood pressure and adding protein to urine. Its origin lies in an excess of the protein Flt-1, produced by the placenta. Scientists at Cedars-Sinai have created a filter with antibodies that traps this excess in the blood, offering an alternative to premature delivery, the only standard treatment available so far.
Antibodies in action: how the filter works 🩸
The device uses antibodies designed to selectively bind to circulating Flt-1 protein. In a trial with 16 women with early preeclampsia, each filtering session reduced Flt-1 levels by 17%. Results included a slight decrease in blood pressure and protein in urine. In several cases, the treatment managed to delay the need for premature delivery, buying valuable time for mothers and fetuses without resorting to complex drugs.
The placenta doesn't know what it's doing, but the filter does 🤰
It seems the placenta, in its eagerness to do its job well, goes overboard with the Flt-1 protein. Good thing some scientists said: Let's put a filter on this chaos. The invention doesn't turn pregnancy into a spa, but it manages to lower blood pressure a bit and keep urine from looking like beer foam. And the best part: it delays premature delivery, although expectant moms might dream of a filter that also takes away late-night cravings.