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Preterm pre-eclampsia is a potentially fatal pregnancy condition. A Hong Kong university has modified a test that will nearly double its detection rate in Asian women

  • Test specially designed for Asian women will nearly double detection rate, study indicates
  • Condition can be fatal for women and unborn babies, but most potential cases missed by existing checks

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Academics at one of Hong Kong’s top universities have developed a test that promises to send the detection rate for preterm pre-eclampsia soaring. Photo: Shutterstock
Elizabeth Cheung

Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a test tailor-made for Asian women to almost double the detection rate in the city for a dangerous pregnancy condition.

The improved screening for preterm pre-eclampsia, which can lead to the death of both pregnant women and fetuses, was designed at Chinese University to address the problem that existing testing in the city missed the vast majority of potential cases.

“Currently we are only able to detect a quarter of women who would eventually develop preterm pre-eclampsia, so we are missing 75 per cent of the women,” said Professor Liona Poon Chiu-yee from the university’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Professor Leung Tak-yeung (left), chairman of Chinese University’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology, and Professor Liona Poon Chiu-yee (centre) are part of the team who have developed an Asian-specific form of the Fetal Medicine Foundation triple test. Photo: Elizabeth Cheung
Professor Leung Tak-yeung (left), chairman of Chinese University’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology, and Professor Liona Poon Chiu-yee (centre) are part of the team who have developed an Asian-specific form of the Fetal Medicine Foundation triple test. Photo: Elizabeth Cheung

The condition is characterised by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in urine, but does not bring discomfort to women, meaning it can go undetected.

It could lead to serious complications such as stroke and premature births, and affects around one to two people in every 100 pregnant women in Hong Kong.

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