[First-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia]

Abstract

Pre-eclampsia is a common and serious pregnancy complication. This review describes that low-dose acetylsalicylic acid can reduce the risk of preterm pre-eclampsia in high-risk pregnant women if treatment is started before the 16th week of pregnancy. A new screening algorithm can already, in the first trimester of pregnancy, predict an individual woman's risk of developing pre-eclampsia by combining a series of biophysical and biochemical markers with maternal risk factors. The screening has been validated internationally and in Denmark. In 2025, a national implementation project will be initiated to evaluate the effectiveness of a change in screening strategy in Denmark.