A global leader in prenatal and neonatal health and a European organization representing clinicians and parents team together to improve long-term care of preterm and newborn infants
PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment, today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) to increase and improve awareness of pre-eclampsia screening throughout Europe.
Working closely with the EFCNI, PerkinElmer will take a leading role in helping to define a Europe-wide scope of action for increasing awareness of pre-eclampsia, as well as how to prevent the condition through timely and accurate screening. PerkinElmer will provide its expertise in pre-eclampsia and screening regimes to support EFCNI's extensive network of clinical, parental and political decision-maker contacts to implement standards of care for prenatal, maternal and neonatal health in Europe. PerkinElmer is an exclusive partner of EFCNI in the field of pre-eclampsia.
"We are very pleased to welcome PerkinElmer as an EFCNI collaborator to help achieve recognition of preterm birth as a growing health concern throughout Europe, and to highlight the importance of prevention, in light of the major risks and impacts associated with the condition, for families as well as society," said Silke Mader, Chairwoman of EFCNI. "Pre-eclampsia is associated with an increased long-term risk of chronic diseases for the baby and the mother and it is important to improve pre-eclampsia screening with the European awareness campaign we are creating with PerkinElmer."
"PerkinElmer is very proud to join the European-wide effort to improve prenatal, maternal and neonatal health in collaboration with EFCNI, a recognized leader in child health awareness," said Jim Corbett, President, Diagnostics, PerkinElmer. "PerkinElmer is committed to helping prevent the serious consequences of pre-eclampsia by providing early and effective screening solutions, sharing knowledge and increasing awareness through educational efforts about this complication."
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that is estimated to affect 8,370,000 women worldwide every year and causes high blood pressure, swelling, increased protein levels and related symptoms in expectant mothers, with potential adverse effects to the mother, and unborn and newborn babies. Pre-eclampsia is associated with an estimated 1 out of 200 pregnancies and is considered a major cause of preterm birth, with an estimated 20% of all preterm births caused by this complication. Women who have pre-eclampsia that leads to preterm delivery have been reported to have an eight-fold higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with women who do not develop pre-eclampsia and whose pregnancy goes to term.
The condition usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy, and is believed to be a cause of premature delivery prior to 34 weeks. Screening at-risk women early in their pregnancy enables timely action aimed at preventing pre-eclampsia. Research suggests aspirin treatment may greatly reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). According to a recent meta-analysis, an estimated 89% of early-onset pre-eclampsia (pre-eclampsia causing delivery before pregnancy week 34) can be prevented or delayed if aspirin treatment is started early in the pregnancy.
PerkinElmer offers a complete and practical solution for pre-eclampsia screening through its PlGF assay kit and risk calculation software that are available for all PerkinElmer DELFIA® platforms. The assay kit and risk calculation software are presently being used in Europe and many other countries outside of Europe. The assay enables rapid and accurate detection of PlGF – a protein produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Reduced maternal serum concentration of PlGF has been shown in a high proportion of pregnancies that have gone on to develop pre-eclampsia.
About the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI)
The European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI) is a pan-European organization representing parents and scientific experts with the aim of improving the long-term care of preterm and newborn infants with illnesses and support for their families. The EFCNI seeks to ensure that Europe's largest group of child patients receives the attention it deserves.
The EFCNI was set up in April 2008. It is the first time that people from diverse disciplines, who are all involved in the care for newborn infants and particularly preterm infants, have come together at a European level.
The EFCNI encourages all those involved or interested in this issue to interact and exchange ideas. It promotes mutual understanding and serves as a platform for the initiation, coordination and integration of all local and national activities involving the care of newborn infants, prevention of preterm delivery, long-term care of preterm infants and support for parents and relatives. The EFCNI is particularly keen to establish a link between parents, health professionals and scientists. Additional information about EFCNI is available at www.efcni.org.
About PerkinElmer, Inc.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment. The Company reported revenue of approximately $1.9 billion in 2011, has about 7,000 employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at www.perkinelmer.com.
References:
Irgens HU, Reisæter L, Irgens LM, Lie RT, Roberts JM. (2001): Long term mortality of mothers and fathers after pre-eclampsia: population based cohort study. Pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular disease later in life: who is at risk? BMJ 323, 1213-1217.
Mathews TJ, Curtin SC, MacDorman MF. (2000): Infant mortality statistics from the 1998 period linked birth/infant death data set. National Vital Statistics Reports, 48 (12). Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics.
National Center for Health Statistics, 2000 final Natality Data Report.
Roberg S, Villa P, Nicolaides KH, Giguère Y, Vainio M, Bakthi A, Ebrashy A, Bujold E. (2012). Early Administration of Low-Dose Aspirin for the Prevention of Preterm and Term Preeclampsia:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Fetal Diagn Ther
Contacts:
PerkinElmer, Inc.
Sarah Salbu, 781-663-5782
Public Relations
Specialist
sarah.salbu@perkinelmer.com