Preeclampsia Treatment Trial Offers Hope in South Africa
It was the fall of 2024 when Abigail Hendricks discovered she was expecting her fifth child. Excitement filled her as she thought about the new addition to her family.
“For me, a baby is a blessing,” she expressed. “They’re cute, precious, and truly a gift from God.” However, at 33 years old and living in Cape Town, South Africa, she soon faced a troubling reality: her growing baby posed serious health risks. With her history of high blood pressure, things took a turn for the worse. Soon, debilitating headaches plagued her, and occasionally her vision would blur. Eventually, her doctors discovered protein in her urine.
“I kept on fighting,” Hendricks recalls, mentioning her faith. “I would pray for the safety of my baby and myself every night and morning.”
Her healthcare team switched her blood pressure medication and advised her to take it easy. These appointments shifted to Tygerberg Hospital, known for handling more complex medical cases.
Yet, a month before her delivery date, her blood pressure was spiraling out of control. While normal readings hover around 120 over 80, Hendricks’ numbers climbed to 163 over 101.
Diagnosed with preeclampsia, a serious condition marked by damage to blood vessels and significant fluid loss, she learned it could lead to severe complications. “They warned me about the risk of seizures due to my high blood pressure,” she said, recalling the fear that engulfed her. “I kept wondering, what would happen next?”
An Anxious Start
Cathy Cluver, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stellenbosch University, recently navigated through the bustling maternity ward at Tygerberg Hospital. With nurses and doctors scurrying between patients, the cries of newborns punctuated the atmosphere. Cluver, having invested a decade into seeking a treatment for preeclampsia, knows all too well the stakes involved.
“We handle about 8,000 to 9,000 deliveries each year, mainly from high-risk mothers,” she stated. Many of these women desperately try to delay delivery for the health of their babies, despite the risks it may pose to themselves.
Pointing to a room filled with mothers suffering from preeclampsia, she didn’t hide her concern: “You can tell they’re not well. Their legs and hands are swollen. These women are risking their own health for their babies.”
Preeclampsia occurs when the placenta signals it isn’t receiving enough oxygen, prompting a spike in blood pressure. Cluver has experienced it herself during her first pregnancy, which adds to her commitment to finding solutions.
Standard medications for high blood pressure can be dangerous, as they might lower the mother’s blood pressure, thereby restricting blood flow to the baby when the placenta urgently needs it.
It’s a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for at least 42,000 deaths annually. Cluver’s aim is to find a treatment that not only reduces blood pressure but also heals damaged blood vessels.
About two years ago, she received word from DiaMedica Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company based in the U.S., about an experimental drug named DM199 initially designed for stroke treatment. Skeptical yet intrigued, Cluver and her team agreed to try it, identifying its potential benefits.
They started a trial with mothers experiencing dangerously high blood pressure, scheduled to have early deliveries.
“That first day was nerve-wracking,” Cluver admitted, recounting the start of the infusion process. They carefully enrolled small groups of women, gradually increasing the drug dosage. However, initial results were disheartening with minimal effects observed.
Then came the 16th patient. “When we opened her IV, her blood pressure stabilized almost immediately,” Cluver recalled, disbelief in her voice. “We were stunned—this was incredible!”
The excitement among the medical team was palpable as they celebrated the results. Subsequent patients continued to show similar improvements.
The drug appears to stabilize the lining of blood vessels, making them function better. Tests indicate it doesn’t reach the placenta or breast milk, offering hope that it won’t pose risks to the baby.
Cluver and her team are optimistic about this potentially being the first pharmaceutical treatment for preeclampsia. “It means healthy outcomes for both mothers and babies,” stated research nurse Jacqui Thake. “It’s about preventing broken homes and helping little ones grow up in loving environments.” But both express a need for more research to fully comprehend the drug’s effects and capabilities.
Abigail Hendricks was patient number 24 in the trial, and now her son Hayden is nearly nine months old. “He’s a sweet little guy, very playful,” she says, joy radiating from her. After her blood pressure stabilized during the trial, she had a smooth delivery—”He came into the world crying, and I couldn’t help but cry tears of joy, knowing both of us were okay.”
