• Pre-eclampsia, high blood pressure in pregnancy, is a common complication of pregnancy resulting in maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality
• An estimated 10million pregnant women develop pre-eclampsia every year, and approximately 76,000 of them die (more than 200 a day)
• Pre-eclampsia is responsible for approximately 500,000 fetal and neonatal deaths each year (more than 1300 per day) - World Health Organization (WHO)
• Early detection and early treatment improves outcomes
• New study found the USCOM 1A detects pre-eclampsia as early as 5 weeks, while conventional measures detect it after 20 weeks
• Researchers say screening using the new device for pre-eclampsia during pregnancy may allow earlier intervention and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
SYDNEY Australia, 21 April 2015: New data published today demonstrates the detection and management of pre-eclampsia in pregnancy may be significantly improved by screening in early pregnancy using an Australian developed and manufactured device, The USCOM 1A manufactured by Uscom Australia.
Pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnancy, is the most common cause of death and impairment of mothers and babies during pregnancy, occurring in over 10 million women per year worldwide. Each year it kills approximately 76,000 women (200 per day) and is responsible for over 500,000 fetal and neonatal deaths (1300 per day).
Despite advances in perinatal care the incidence of pre-eclampsia has not changed over the last 20 years, and an intensive research focus in the last decade has yielded no significant improvement in its prediction or prevention. New research published in “Pregnancy Hypertension, an International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health” by Professor Valensise and his team from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, suggests this may change.
The prospective observational trial studied 120 otherwise normal women in early pregnancy with normal blood pressure, and found that USCOM 1A measurements detected the changes of pre-eclampsia as early as 5 weeks into pregnancy, much earlier than the current 20 weeks with blood pressure monitoring. The researchers concluded that USCOM 1A screening in early pregnancy may allow for earlier detection of pre-eclampsia and more appropriate interventions, and improve the outcomes of mothers and babies during pregnancy. Professor Valensise and his team have been working with USCOM 1A (Uscom Limited, Australia) on this project for over 3 years.
The USCOM 1A measures identified mothers likely to deliver babies with a lower gestational age at delivery, with lower birth weights, those more frequently admitted to the NICU for fetal distress at birth, and those who were delivered by caesarian section.
Uscom Limited Chief Executive, Associate Professor Rob Phillips said, “This new study provides evidence supporting USCOM 1A screening in pregnancy. This Study suggests USCOM 1A screening will significantly improve pregnancy outcomes and contribute to the saving of lives of mothers and babies world wide. We are proud that our device is improving care in such an important group.“
“This is the first Study to prove that USCOM 1A measurements detect changes in cardiovascular function long before they are detected by simple blood pressure monitors. This potentially revolutionises the way we approach hypertension and all cardiovascular disease, and opens markets worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Uscom.”
This publication is also likely to motivate other researchers in the field to focus on and further define the benefits of USCOM 1A described in this paper, as the technology transitions from providing novel research insights into pre-eclampsia, to a clinical standard of care for pregnancy. Professor Gus Dekker from the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide, is a world expert on pre-eclampsia and a long term USCOM 1A user and researcher is currently co-ordinating an Australia wide implementation of the USCOM technology to standardise early detection and management of pre-eclampsia.
Uscom’s non-invasive system uses external ultrasound sensors similar to that used in a pregnancy monitoring. The USCOM 1A works by sending an ultrasound signal towards the heart through a small transmitter about the size of a five cent piece placed on the skin on the chest. The ultrasound is reflected by the red blood cells producing a unique echo and the device counts the cells as they flow across the cardiac valves. Proprietary algorithms and technology allows an accurate calculation of the volume of blood flowing across the cardiac valves with each pump of the heart. The USCOM 1A is recognised as providing the most accurate and sensitive clinical measurements of blood flow and has diverse applications ranging from paediatrics, emergency and intensive care, anaesthesia and cardiac assist devices.
For more information please contact:
Professor Gus Dekker
Lyell McEwin Hospital Maternity Hospital Adelaide
T: +61 (0) 414909621
Assoc Professor Rob Phillips
CEO
Uscom Limited
Tel: +61 (02) 9247 4144
www.uscom.com.au
The full article entitled ' Assessment of total vascular resistance and total body water in normotensive women during the first trimester of pregnancy. A key for the prevention of preeclampsia” is available at http://www.pregnancyhypertension.org/article/S2210-7789(15)00019-7/fulltext
About Uscom
Uscom Limited (UCM) is an ASX listed cardiovascular medical device company. Uscom is an innovative developer and manufacturer of premium cardiovascular devices and has two practice leading technologies in the field of cardiovascular monitoring, the USCOM 1A and the Uscom BP+. Both devices are clinically validated with FDA, CE and TGA regulatory registration, and are currently being marketed into global distribution networks. The USCOM 1A is a simple, cost-effective and non-invasive device that measures heart function, detects circulatory abnormalities and guides treatment. The USCOM 1A device has major applications in Paediatrics, Emergency, Intensive Care Medicine, Anaesthesia and Maternal Health, and is the device of choice for management of adult and paediatric sepsis, heart failure, and for the guidance of fluid therapy. The Uscom BP+ is a supra systolic Central Blood Pressure monitor and replaces older and more widespread sub systolic Blood Pressure monitoring technology. Central Blood Pressure is emerging as the new standard of care in hypertension and heart failure. The Uscom BP+ provides a highly accurate and repeatable measurement of central and brachial blood pressure and arterial pulse pressure waveforms, measures otherwise only available by cardiac catheterisation. The Uscom BP+ is simple to use and measures from a familiar upper arm cuff, and requires no complex training, and has applications in cardiology, intensive care, general practice and home care.
For more information, please visit: www.uscom.com.au
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