London doctors find heart defect clue to explain deadly pregnancy condition

Pre-eclampsia case study Holly Taggart, thriving at age two
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Women who develop life-threatening pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia may have underlying heart and circulation problems, doctors warned today.

Pre-eclampsia affects up to six per cent of pregnancies and is serious in about a third of cases. It is diagnosed via the mother’s high blood pressure, usually after 24 weeks, and normally results in an early birth . In extreme cases it can cause the mother to have fits, putting her life and that of the child at risk.

About 1,000 babies in Britain die each year as a result of it, mainly due to being born prematurely. The causes of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR), an overlapping condition that slows or stops a baby’s growth, are something of a mystery but are thought to be linked to abnormalities with the development of the placenta.

Now a study of 218 pregnant women by Imperial College London has found the 15 who developed pre-eclampsia or FGR had hearts that pumped less blood with each beat, and less efficient blood circulation. Dr Christoph Lees, lead author from the department of surgery and cancer at Imperial, said the conditions “can have serious consequences, yet we’re still largely in the dark about their root cause and how to prevent them.

Thriving: Hayley Taggart, with daughter Holly at six months
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“These findings suggest pre-existing issues with the heart and circulation may play a role, and provide an important piece of the jigsaw.”

Women with FGR or pre-eclampsia had hearts that pumped 16 per cent less blood per minute than those who had healthy pregnancies. Their blood vessels were 17 per cent more resistant to blood flow — causing higher blood pressure .

Hayley Taggart, a midwife at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea hospital, was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia at 28 weeks while taking part in the trial. A doctor colleague spotted her face, legs and hands were puffy and swollen — a common symptom.

Medication failed to lower her blood pressure and a scan four weeks later revealed the placenta had stopped working. “I cried when I was told,” she said. “To hear your baby is seriously affected is very upsetting.” Daughter Holly was born at 33 weeks — almost two months premature. Despite weighing just over 4lb, and initially requiring a feeding tube, she is now thriving.

Ms Taggart, of East Acton, said: “She’s a completely normal, bouncing two-year-old. You wouldn’t know she was premature. I’m so glad my husband Craig and I decided to take part in the trial.” The study team is exploring whether dietary changes, encouraging weight loss and increasing exercise can reduce risks. The CONCEIVE trial is in journal Hypertension.

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