Novel Biomarkers of Preeclampsia

There is a paucity of biomarkers to predict preeclampsia and for predicting the severity of
preeclampsia. This study was designed to identify novel biomarkers for both the prediction of
preeclampsia in previously normal pregnancies and for the prediction of the severity of
preeclampsia in preeclamptic women. The investigators plan to perform targeted testing for
markers that the investigators predict based on their findings or based on available
published evidence and the investigators also plan testing for novel markers using various
approaches such as proteomics, lipidomics and genomics. The targeted markers will include
Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), soluble aquaporin fragments, chemokines, and halogenated fatty acids in
the plasma and/or spinal fluid. Aquaporin fragments and AQP4 have been hypothesized to
correlate with severe headaches which are complications of severe preeclampsia. The
investigators found in their murine studies that there is a correlation between the presence
of halogenated fatty acids in the plasma and elevated blood pressure in a murine model of
preeclampsia. The approaches will complement the targeted analyses to identify novel markers
that have not been predicted yet.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Greater than or equal to 20 years of age

- Greater than 24 weeks of gestation

- Obstetrics/Anesthesia Team had decided that Combined Spinal/Epidural (CSE) or Spinal
Anesthesia will be performed

Exclusion Criteria:

- Pre-pregnancy comorbidities:

- hypertension, diabetes, or pulmonary hypertension

- use of steroids, beta blockers, Ca channel antagonist, anticoagulants

- cardiac or vascular conditions

- severe headaches or visual disturbances

- Inability to receive CSE or Spinal Anesthesia

- Chorioamnionitis, fever, bronchitis, pneumonia