The Green Room: A Podcast from Obstetrics & Gynecology April 2024: Obstetrics
Mar 21, 2024
Dr. Richard M. Burwick, an associate professor and maternal-fetal medicine expert, discusses the latest advancements in preeclampsia research. He highlights the importance of angiogenic biomarkers and their role in maternal health, including the newly FDA-approved S-FLIT ratio test. The conversation also dives into the implications of antenatal steroids for late preterm deliveries and the impact of low-dose aspirin on neurodevelopment. Burwick emphasizes the need for equitable access to testing and the balance between biomarker data and clinical judgment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Origin Story
- Richard Burwick's mother had preterm preeclampsia with an eclamptic seizure when pregnant with him.
- That family history influenced his career focus on preeclampsia and related research.
Anti‑Angiogenic Mechanism
- Preeclampsia represents an anti-angiogenic state driven by excess soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1).
- sFlt-1 inhibits VEGF and placental growth factor, disrupting placental vascular remodeling and causing systemic endothelial injury.
From Research To FDA Approval
- Angiogenic biomarkers have two decades of research but only recently gained FDA approval in the U.S.
- The 2023 FDA approval formalized sFlt-1/PlGF ratio use for predicting progression to severe preeclampsia.