The study was conducted on pregnant rats using spectral photoacoustic imaging, a noninvasive procedure that can detect placental ischemia - a sign of possible preeclampsia - prior to the onset of symptoms, such as high blood pressure, severe headaches and dizziness.
‘Photoacoustic imaging in a non-invasive procedure that is safe for the fetus, and is a powerful tool that helps in the understanding and treatment of pregnancy-related illnesses.’
Photoacoustic images were acquired of the placenta of normal pregnant rats and rats with preeclampsia on various days of gestation. Two days after inducing preeclampsia, the average placental oxygenation decreased 12 percent in comparison to normal pregnant rats.
"Spectral photoacoustic imaging is a powerful preclinical tool that has many promising applications in the understanding and treatment of pregnancy-related diseases," Bayer said.
"It provides new imaging techniques to look at the progression of the disease through gestation, which might be a better way to understand which patients need interventions to treat the preeclampsia."
Because it is a noninvasive procedure, it poses little to no risk to the fetus, compared to cordocentesis, a fetal blood sampling that is much more dangerous.
Photoacoustic imaging may be used to detect breast, ovarian and other types of cancers.
Source: Eurekalert
