April 25, 2002
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Question from New Jersey, USA:
I have just read about a test of a protein called SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) that can be done early in pregnancy which may predict who will develop preeclampsia. The author also stated that that obese and women with diabetes women are especially at risk and that SHBG protein is associated with insulin resistance, a condition that can sometime lead to diabetes. Both overweight and lean women who had the low levels of SHBG went on to develop preeclampsia, the researchers found.
Will this test be useful for doctors to routinely order as of now, or is it something that will take years to decide if the test is truly helpful?
Answer:
This study presents an interesting observation. However, it is not a standard practice to obtain a SHBG level. Even if women at high risk can be identified, there is no way to prevent preeclampsia and similarly gestational diabetes. Thus, at this time it remains important to screen pregnant women for both of these problems (follow blood pressure and urine tests for protein along with the glucose challenge tests). It will also take a much larger study to verify the findings claimed in this report.
OWJ
