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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Adi Laurentiu Tarca, Wayne State University, USA
- Second opponent: Post. Doc. Liv Cecilie Vestrheim Thomsen, University of Bergen,
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor Hans Christian Erichsen Landsverk, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Anne Flem Jacobsen, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Trond Melbye Michelsen, University of Oslo
Summary
We suggest novel biomarkers with potentially improved ability to predict preeclampsia compared to biomarkers used in today’s clinical practice.
Preeclampsia is a progressive, unpredictable and serious pregnancy syndrome affecting 1000-2500 pregnancies per year in Norway (Medical Birth Registry of Norway, June 30, 2023). The cause of preeclampsia is partly unknown, but placental dysfunction seems to play an import role. Preeclampsia is linked to increased morbidity and mortality both for the mother and child, such as preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the mother. Over many years, clinical guidelines and tests have been developed to target women with high risk of developing preeclampsia. However, not all women with high risk do actually develop preeclampsia, and therefore there is a need for novel tests with improved prediction performance to allow closer follow-up of women at true risk, and avoid unnecessary follow-up and worries among the healthy.
Our machine learning algorithms selected proteins that together in one statistical model showed high ability to separate between healthy pregnancies and pregnancies with preeclampsia. We call the proteins included in these models preeclampsia biomarkers, but we can also use the term a biomarker signature, because the proteins are included in a biomarker panel. This model can be potentially useful in the clinic as a test for preeclampsia. We have also identified proteins that are released from the placenta to the maternal circulation by using a unique method called the 4-vessel sampling method. We believe that these placenta-derived proteins are especially interesting due to the link between preeclampsia and placenta-dysfunction.
We have searched for a higher number of proteins that can improve tests for preeclampsia than in any previous projects. The proteins we have identified as potential biomarkers must be further validated in clinical studies before they can be implemented in a clinical test.
Additional information
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