Doctors in the United States have discovered that getting a blood test within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may help indicate the risk of numerous birth complications, including premature births.
The findings were presented at the American Association of Reproductive Medicine annual congress in Texas, which is a reproductive health conference.
The team shared that they analysed molecules in the blood that are associated with birth complications.
The blood test analyses the molecules called microRNA. They hope that this blood test will help doctors identify the issues at an earlier stage.
The experts from the San Francisco Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology studied the molecules ability to foresee pre-eclampsia, miscarriage and premature birth within the first three months of a pregnancy.
They found that the molecules outcome rates were extremely accurate.
The accuracy rates for miscarriage and premature birth ranged from 90 to 98 percent. The rate for pre-eclampsia was 82 percent.
They hope this research will help avoid early delivery, miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.
160 births were examined throughout the study. The experts studied the blood in the placental bed, which is the lining of the wall of the uterus.
They revealed that the molecules helped identify the risks of miscarriage and other complications.
Despite the latest research, experts have urged people to remember that the information is only a minor step in a major study.
The San Francisco researchers have asked people not to exaggerate the findings as there is a lot more research to do in the future.
Daniel Brison, honorary professor of clinical embryology and stem cell biology at the University of Manchester, spoke to the BBC about the research.
He admitted, “Although the results might seem exciting and cutting edge, there is, unfortunately, a high risk of them being wrong.”
He added that further research is needed to ensure that these results are useful and accurate.
He hopes future studies will help medical professionals find out what the main cause of placental disease is.
According to the HSE mild pre-eclampsia can affect 10 percent of first-time pregnancies. They stated that 1-2 percent of pregnancies can be affected by severe pre-eclampsia.
In Ireland, it is understood that 14,000 women suffer a miscarriage every year. 50 percent of Irish women who miscarry will be admitted to hospital.
It is believed that numerous miscarriages occur before a woman discovers she is pregnant.
