Un'analisi del sangue, o meglio un'analisi delle molecole fetali in esso contenute, permette di prevedere in modo accurato la data del parto, e se c'è il rischio che sia prematuro.
La scoperta è stata descritta dal gruppo dell'Università di Stanford sulla rivista Science. I ricercatori, affiancati da altri colleghi danesi del Statens Serum Institute di Copenhagen, hanno raccolto i campioni di sangue durante la gravidanza da 31 donne danesi, che avevano partorito a termine, e di 38 donne americane a rischio di parto pre-termine, perchè già avevano avuto delle contrazioni o un altro parto prematuro.
Sono così riusciti a identificare una manciata di geni, che indicano per ogni donna il rischio di parto prematuro e l'età del feto. Finora i medici, per stimare la data del parto, si basavano sulla data dell'ultimo ciclo mestruale materno e sugli ultrasuoni, ma i risultati non sempre sono affidabili. Questa analisi lo è invece nel 75-80% dei casi.
ATS/CaL
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