Low-cost test on anvil to detect life-threatening pregnancy complication of preeclampsia: expert

Preeclampsia expert Dr. Ananth Karumanchi discusses new molecular test and therapies to combat pregnancy complications.

Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication, characterised by high blood pressure and kidney damage. It can endanger both the mother and the baby and, if left untreated, can progress to eclampsia, a life-threatening condition, according to S. Ananth Karumanchi, director of Renovascular Research Centre, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, the U.S.

Dr. Ananth was in Visakhapatnam to deliver the Dr. GRK Raju Oration at the valedictory event of Waves 2025, the FOGSI Presidential Conference on Sunday (May 18).

“Preeclampsia affects both the mother and baby owing to high BP, and it can turn fatal for the mother. We have discovered molecules in blood that can be identified to detect the triggers of preeclampsia much before its onset. At present, the disease is being detected only after complications like high BP set in, affecting body organs. This new molecular test gives a much higher degree (92%) of accuracy than conventional tests,” Dr. Ananth told The Hindu on the sidelines of the conference.

“The molecular test has been approved by the US FDA and is being used in the U.S. and Europe. It’s, however, very expensive right now. We are in the process of developing a low-cost test, and a study is being done in Delhi to validate the low-cost version. Once this gets approved, it can be a game changer to prevent the complications of preeclampsia in pregnant women and thereby bring down the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate(IMR) in developing countries,” he opines.

On new therapies to combat eclampsia, Dr. Ananth says: “As the pathway for early detection of preeclampsia has been found, we are in the process of developing RNA interference therapy, which can be given as a single dose during pregnancy.”

“An estimated 15% of maternal deaths during pregnancy in the world and 25% of [such] deaths in India are caused by preeclampsia. MMR [maternal mortality rate] is 93 in India and 45 in A.P.,” says T. Radha, the organising chairperson of the conference who had invited Dr. Ananth to update all the practitioners on the latest research on preeclampsia.

“After completing MBBS in Kilpauk Medical College in Chennai, Dr. Ananth pursued higher studies at Harvard University and later completed his Fellowship in Nephrology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. His path breaking research will usher in a paradigm shift in the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and provide solace to millions of pregnant women,” added Dr. Radha.