Metabolite Profiling for Early Preeclampsia Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods fail to effectively predict preeclampsia in pregnant women before gestational week 16, a condition that is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for both mothers and children, due to the lack of reliable early detection tools.

Innovation Solution

Measuring specific metabolites such as eicosanoids, including oxylipins derived from arachidonic, linoleic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids, in blood samples to create profiles that indicate the presence or absence of preeclampsia, using techniques like mass spectrometry for accurate prediction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current prediction methods are used, then preeclampsia can be detected, but detection cannot be performed reliably before gestational week 16

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprediction reliabilityVSAvoiddetection timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring metabolite levels (particularly eicosanoids like 11-HETE, 14,15-DHET, and 18-HETE) during the first trimester (weeks 10-16), which is earlier than conventional methods allow. This early metabolite profiling enables prediction of preeclampsia risk before the traditional detection window, allowing preventive interventions to be initiated in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If metabolite profiling is performed to improve prediction accuracy, then sensitivity and specificity increase, but measurement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprediction accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by focusing measurement on a specific subset of metabolites (eicosanoids and their derivatives) rather than attempting to measure all metabolites in the sample. By extracting and measuring only the most predictive metabolites such as 11-HETE, 14,15-DHET, 18-HETE, and related compounds, the method achieves high prediction accuracy while keeping the measurement protocol manageable and clinically feasible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method allows for early prediction of preeclampsia with high sensitivity and specificity, enabling timely intervention and potentially reducing maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality by identifying at-risk pregnancies as early as the first trimester.

Implementation Method 1

using techniques like mass spectrometry for accurate prediction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMass spectrometry:

Data Source

PatentUS20240201207A1Method and kit for predicting preeclampsia

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 MAX DELBRUECK CENT FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN

AI summary

The invention pertains to a method for the prediction of preeclampsia in a pregnant female human subject until the end of gestational week 16 of pregnancy based on metabolites from a blood sample obtained from said subject. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:measuring the level of the following metabolites in the sample: 14,15-DHET, 13-HODE, 10,11-EDP, 21-HDHA, and 11,12-DHET, andconcluding based on the measured level whether the subject is likely to develop preeclampsia.