A better understanding of pregnancy diseases to improve prevention and treatment

PROJECT LEADERS

Dr Danièle Evain-Brion, Director of research of UMR 767, Director of the PremUp Foundation.
Dr Thierry Fournier, Director of Research Inserm.
Pr Vassilis Tsatsaris, Professor of Gynecology/Obstetrics.

Context

Two major complications of pregnancy are associated with abnormal placental development : pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). There is an urgent need to improve our understanding of these conditions, as they are a major cause of perinatal complications and also have disabling repercussions in adults.

Preeclampsia, a pathological condition, which appears in the second trimester of pregnancy, is characterised by high blood pressure and renal dysfunction and can develop in its most extreme form (eclampsia) into severe hypertension and convulsions that can lead to the death of both mother and baby. Preeclampsia affects 20.000 women per year in France (that is, about 2-3 % of pregnancies). These complications are unfortunately the second highest cause of maternal death during delivery and the weeks after birth. At present, the only treatment for preeclampsia is termination of pregnancy and removing the placenta causing the condition. Therefore, preeclampsia is in fact a major cause of premature birth, and accounts for one third, that is, 5.000 of extremely premature births. Preeclampsia is related to early placental dysfunction, which remains insufficiently explained even today. It is therefore essential to promote research in this field.

IUGR is manifested at birth by low birth weight and small size for gestational age. The mechanisms responsible for foetal growth retardation remain poorly understood. In one third of cases the placenta is responsible for this pathological condition, which is a major cause of extreme prematurity and perinatal mortality. 24.000 to 40.000 newborn babies are affected by this pathology and half of them will be more susceptible to metabolic and cardio-vascular disorders in adulthood.

Objectives

• Improve our understanding of normal and pathological placental development.
• Understand the mechanism implicated in the onset of pre-eclampsia.
• Study the mechanism by which the placenta nourishes and oxygenates the foetus to prevent IUGR.

Added value of PremUp Foundation

These research teams are recognised both nationally (AERES) and internationally as being the most qualified to expand our knowledge of the role of the placenta in both normal and pathological pregnancy.

Projected budget

Budget over 3 years	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	TOTAL
Consumables	30.000	30.000	30.000	90.000
Fellowship for Master student	15.000	15.000	15.000	45.000
Laboratory equipment	60.000			60.000
Administration costs of the project (5 % of the total amount)	5.250	2.250	2.250	9.750
	110.250	47.250	47.250	204.750