Evaluation of the effect of Low dose Aspirin on plasma concentration of Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) in moderate to high risk preeclampsia patients compared to low risk pregnant females and to correlate NfL levels with maternal and fetal outcomes

Pre-Eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder developing in pregnant females after 20 weeks of gestation. It is defined as blood pressure more than 140/90 mm hg in patients with previously normal blood pressure readings. End organ damage is also seen in this condition which can affect major organ systems like kidney, liver and brain. The estimated prevalence in India is 10% and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Patients are screened for risk of pre-eclampsia according to India guidelines issued by FOGSI and are classified as low, moderate and high risk for pre-eclampsia. In moderate and high risk patients, low dose aspirin is started as a prophylactic measure. Currently, there is no pharmacological treatment of the disease and symptoms are managed accordingly using clinical, biochemical and radiological parameters. Once the disease develops, symptomatic treatment is done using lifestyle modification and pharmacological therapies with the only definitive treatment being termination of pregnancy. Due to the above reasons, patients are advised regular ANC visits for early detection and management.

This study aims to assess the effect of the prophylactic drug i.e aspirin on a predictive axonal biomarker Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL). The aforesaid biomarker will be evaluated during routine ANC checkup and extra 5 ml blood will be taken for the same. Furthermore, the biomarker levels will be correlated with clinical and radiological parameters to establish it’s role as a predictive biomarker for the disease of interest.