Post by Griffith University

A study to prevent pre-eclampsia and improve maternal and perinatal health outcomes is underway as part of a joint initiative between Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH). GCUH is the coordinating site for the OPTIMA study which involves pregnant women attending three visits at 11-14 weeks gestation, 20-22 weeks, and 35-37 weeks. Professor Fabricio Costa from Griffith School of Medicine and Dentistry and Maternal Fetal Medicine Director at Gold Coast Health, said each visit would involve clinicians running a series of tests. “We’ll review the patient’s history, measure their blood pressure, perform an ultrasound scan and take a blood sample,” Professor da Silva Costa said. “At each visit, we’ll assess the risk calculation of the patient developing pre-eclampsia.” PhD Candidate Dr Carman Wing Sze Lai, who is also a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, said pre-eclampsia was a serious obstetrics complication which usually occurred after 20 weeks of gestation. “Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition driven by placental dysfunction, leading to high blood pressure and damage to maternal organs such as the kidneys,” she said. “Without early identification and careful monitoring, it can threaten the health of both mother and baby.” According to the World Health Organisation, pre-eclampsia affects three to eight per cent of women globally.