Clinics in Mother and Child Health

Abstract

Cardiovascular Diseases Associated with Pregnancy: Early Assessment Using Non-Invasive MicroRNA Profiling

Hardip Sandhu

In some cases pregnancies are associated with severe cases of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The early detection and proper treatment of CVDs during maternity is detrimental to the health outcome and wellbeing of both mother and child. Unfortunately, both the detection rate and assessment of CVDs during pregnancies are unsatisfactory.

Currently, the messenger RNA (mRNA) regulators called microRNAs (miRNAs) are being extensively profiled for use as clinical CVDs biomarkers due to their specific tissue and disease expression signature profiles. The identification and development of reliable biomarkers for early clinical assessment of CVDs during pregnancy could allow the detection of sub-clinical cardiac injury risk in vulnerable pregnant patients before irreversible damage occurs. CVDs specific miRNA biomarkers could provide the clinicians with a valuable tool to allow prognosis of patients at risk of cardiovascular injury and the introduction of therapy and intervention in order to increase health outcome and survival rate of both the mother and child.