Pre-eclampsia is high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, affecting about 5-8% of pregnancies worldwide. It typically appears after 20 weeks and can threaten both mother and baby if severe. The only cure is delivery, which sometimes must happen early to protect maternal health.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing low-dose aspirin timing and dosing to prevent pre-eclampsia in high-risk women, medications to extend pregnancy safely when pre-eclampsia develops early, and drugs to prevent seizures and stroke during severe cases. Researchers are also studying blood tests that might predict pre-eclampsia weeks before symptoms appear, allowing earlier intervention.
Predictive biomarkers
Blood tests measuring placental proteins and angiogenic factors may identify women at risk before blood pressure rises. Some tests are now used clinically in Europe and are being validated in U.S. trials.
Aspirin prevention
Studies are refining which women benefit most from low-dose aspirin and when to start it. Evidence suggests starting before 16 weeks works better than later initiation.
Expectant management
Trials are testing medications like nifedipine and newer blood pressure drugs to see if they can safely extend pregnancy when pre-eclampsia develops before 34 weeks. The goal is reducing preterm birth complications while protecting the mother.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on risk factors like prior pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, first pregnancy, or multiple gestation.
What types of trials are currently open
- Prevention trials — Testing aspirin doses and timing, calcium supplements, or other interventions in women at high risk to see if they prevent pre-eclampsia from developing.
- Treatment trials — Testing blood pressure medications and monitoring strategies to see if they safely prolong pregnancy when pre-eclampsia develops early.
- Diagnostic studies — Testing blood and urine biomarkers that might predict pre-eclampsia or identify which cases will become severe.
- Postpartum trials — Testing medications to prevent stroke and other complications in the weeks after delivery, when some pre-eclampsia risks persist.
- Long-term follow-up — Tracking women who had pre-eclampsia to understand their later cardiovascular risk and test prevention strategies.
Recently added Pre-eclampsia trials
Donate blood samples to advance preeclampsia research
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder and remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although abnormal placentation, impaired trophoblast invasion, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation have been implicated in its pathogenesis, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Progesterone plays a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy through both classical nuclear receptors and membrane-associated progesterone receptors. Emerging evidence suggests that progesterone membrane receptors, including progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1), progesterone receptor membrane component 2 (PGRMC2), and members of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family, may regulate trophoblast invasion, placental development, and inflammatory responses. This study aims to compare the placental expression levels of PGRMC1, PGRMC2, and PAQR family receptors between women with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant controls and to investigate their potential role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Donate blood samples to identify early pregnancy complications
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased maternal and fetal morbidity. Endothelial extracellular vesicles (EEVs) have emerged as promising biomarkers of endothelial activation; however, their relationship with blood pressure and endothelial function during pregnancy remains incompletely understood. This observational case-control study aims to compare circulating EEV concentrations between normotensive pregnant women and pregnant women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The study will also investigate the associations between EEV levels, blood pressure, microvascular endothelial function assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry, and circulating biomarkers of endothelial activation. The findings may improve understanding of endothelial injury during pregnancy and support the development of non-invasive biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
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