In Sierra Leone, a groundbreaking advancement in maternal healthcare is offering new hope to pregnant women at risk of life-threatening complications from high blood pressure. Researchers from King’s College London have demonstrated that two simple blood tests, RONIA™ and Lepzi Quanti, can accurately identify women at risk of severe outcomes from pre-eclampsia, a condition that remains one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide. This innovation is particularly significant in low-resource settings, where access to advanced diagnostic tools and neonatal care is limited.
The tests work by measuring levels of placental growth factor (PlGF), a protein essential for healthy placental development. Low levels of PlGF are strongly associated with pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. What makes these tests especially transformative is their simplicity and speed: they require only a finger prick and can be performed at the bedside, delivering results within 15 to 30 minutes. This rapid turnaround enables healthcare providers to make timely decisions about care, prioritizing those most at risk and potentially saving lives.
In the study conducted in Sierra Leone, the tests were administered to women under 34 weeks of pregnancy. The results were striking. The blood tests correctly identified between 95% and 100% of women who were at risk of maternal death or seizures, and 100% of babies who were at risk of stillbirth. These figures underscore the potential of PlGF testing to revolutionize prenatal care in regions where maternal mortality remains unacceptably high. By enabling early detection and intervention, these tests could dramatically improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
Dr. Katy Kuhrt, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough, noting that it equips clinicians with a powerful tool to triage patients effectively. In settings where resources are stretched thin and every decision carries weight, the ability to identify high-risk pregnancies with such precision is invaluable. The implications extend beyond Sierra Leone, offering a model for other countries facing similar challenges in maternal health. As global health organizations continue to seek scalable, cost-effective solutions to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, innovations like these blood tests represent a critical step forward.