Grant: Operating Grant: ECI grants in MRC&Y Health - Circulatory / Respiratory Health

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening condition of pregnancy for both mother and baby. For the mother, symptoms include high blood pressure. Higher amounts of protein are also found in the urine of women with preeclampsia. This is known as proteinuria. Preeclampsia can damage the mother's kidneys making them leak more protein than usual into her urine. It can also lead to other organ damage. Complications for babies can also be severe, including preterm birth and very low birth-weight. The accurate measurement of proteinuria is therefore crucial to the healthcare of women evaluated for preeclampsia. Important medical decisions such as hospitalization, drug prescription, and time of delivery all take into consideration proteinuria laboratory results. It is recognized that methods currently used to measure proteinuria during pregnancy need to be improved. One way is to measure albumin, one of the many proteins contained in urine. This is called albuminuria. Albuminuria has been shown to be preferable to proteinuria in many clinical settings outside of pregnancy. Here, we will show that is also preferable for pregnant women. Because special kidney cells called podocytes were recently found in the urine of women with preeclampsia, we will also assess the potential of podocyturia and compare it to the other two methods. We think that podocyturia used in combination with albuminuria may be a simple and effective way to know whether preeclampsia and its complications will occur. Finally, a protein linked to placenta and vessel health in pregnancy called Placental Growth Factor can also be easily measured in the urine and we plan to study this protein as well. Our goal is very straightforward: to improve urinary tests in hypertensive pregnant women by providing simple and accurate laboratory methods. This is crucial to prevent complications for mothers and their babies. Our project will also ensure Canadian leadership in this field.