NIPT blood test can also reveal potential pregnancy complications, Flemish research shows

The widely used NIPT blood test, primarily known for screening fetal abnormalities, can also provide crucial information about potential pregnancy complications, research from UZ Leuven and KU Leuven in Flanders has revealed. This finding could enable earlier medical intervention for expectant mothers.

Professor Dr. Joris Vermeesch, a geneticist at UZ Leuven/KU Leuven, explained that the test, which analyzes fetal DNA fragments, can also reveal insights into the pregnancy's health. "We have now discovered that with this test, we can not only learn about the fetus and its genetics, but also about the pregnancy itself," Vermeesch told VRT NWS. "We can also detect certain pregnancy complications by looking at the DNA fragments."

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We have now discovered that with this test, we can not only learn about the fetus and its genetics, but also about the pregnancy itself. We can also detect certain pregnancy complications by looking at the DNA fragments.

This capability is particularly significant for pregnant women with autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or Crohn's disease, who face a higher risk of complications such as premature birth or pre-eclampsia. While these risks may not be apparent in early pregnancy or through standard blood tests, the NIPT could flag them.

"Doctors can thus intervene more quickly," Vermeesch elaborated. "For example, by starting a low-dose aspirin early to slow down pre-eclampsia, by administering targeted therapy, or by referring a pregnant woman to a specialized university hospital." The research findings were published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine.

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Doctors can thus intervene more quickly. For example, by starting a low-dose aspirin early to slow down pre-eclampsia, by administering targeted therapy, or by referring a pregnant woman to a specialized university hospital.