The Role of Ultrasound in the Early Diagnosis and Follow-Up of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal death worldwide, affecting approximately 2–7% of pregnancies.¹
It is a condition that can develop suddenly and progress rapidly, leaving patients and clinicians with limited time to respond. Traditionally, preeclampsia was understood as a placental disorder, but recent insights point to a more complex origin. Research by Prof. Poon and Prof. Nicolaides (King's College Hospital, London) suggests that preeclampsia may in fact be a cardiovascular condition, explaining why women who experience it during pregnancy face a higher lifetime risk of heart failure and stroke.²

From Late Diagnosis to Early Prediction

Historically, preeclampsia was often diagnosed only after symptoms such as high blood pressure or swelling appeared.² Today, advances in ultrasound and biomarker-based screening are transforming how clinicians approach this disease.

Professor Liona Poon, developed an early risk-assessment model performed between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation.³
Her approach combines maternal risk factors, uterine-artery Doppler measurements (Pulsatility Index), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and placental growth factor (PlGF).³ According to the ASPRE trial, this combined model can identify approximately 75 percent of preterm preeclampsia cases with a 10 percent false-positive rate.⁴ Such predictive capability allows for timely intervention and potential preventive treatments.⁵

Ultrasound Technology and Precision Tools

Accurate imaging is essential to effective screening, and this is where GE HealthCare’s Voluson™ ultrasound platform excels.³
Voluson systems offer advanced Doppler and visualization tools designed for detailed vascular assessment.³

• SlowflowHD enables clinicians to visualize low-velocity blood flow and placental microvascular perfusion, making even the smallest vessels visible.³
• Radiantflow provides fast, high-resolution imaging of tiny vessels, supporting precise uterine-artery evaluation.³
• HDlive™ technology uses customizable virtual lighting to enhance depth perception and reveal internal anatomical structures in unprecedented detail.³

These innovations make it easier to locate uterine arteries and accurately measure the pulsatility index, one of the key ultrasound biomarkers for preeclampsia.³

Integrating Data for Smarter Care

To streamline workflow, GE HealthCare developed ViewPoint™ 6, an intuitive software platform that integrates patient history, ultrasound measurements, and laboratory data into a single reporting environment.

Clinicians can input all relevant information — such as crown-rump length, uterine-artery PI, MAP, and PlGF — to calculate individualized preeclampsia risk directly within the program.³ “Many clinicians around the world are using ViewPoint to capture data. I can enter the data of uterine artery pulsatility index, mean arterial pressure, placental growth factor, and history — and calculate the risk, all in one program,” explains Prof. Liona Poon.³ This level of integration simplifies early screening and enhances the clinician’s ability to act proactively rather than reactively.³

A New Perspective on Maternal Health

Research continues to refine our understanding of preeclampsia.²

Prof. Nicolaides‘ and Prof. Poons‘ work underscores that there may be two distinct types — early-onset, driven by placental dysfunction, and late-onset, associated with maternal cardiovascular maladaptation.⁵ Recognizing these differences allows for more tailored monitoring and highlights the importance of ongoing cardiac assessment even after delivery.²

Conclusion

Ultrasound has become a cornerstone in the early detection and management of preeclampsia, offering clinicians powerful tools to assess both maternal and fetal health.³ By combining innovative imaging technologies such as SlowflowHD, Radiantflow, with integrated software solutions like ViewPoint™ 6, GE HealthCare is helping clinicians move from late diagnosis to true early prediction and prevention.³ This shift represents not only a technological evolution but a new standard in maternal care — one that could significantly reduce the global burden of preeclampsia.^1,5

References

1. World Health Organization. Make Every Mother and Child Count.Geneva: World Health Report; 2005.
   2. Chaney P. A New Perspective on Preeclampsia and Maternal Death.GE HealthCare Women’s Health, Feb 2024. Access: https://www.volusonclub.net/empowered-womens-health/a-new-perspective-on-preeclampsia-and-maternal-death/ (last access: Oct 2025).
   3. GE HealthCare Women’s Health. The Role of Ultrasound in Screening for Preeclampsia. 2024. Access: https://www.volusonclub.net/empowered-womens-health/case/preeclampsia-screening-ultrasound/ (last access: Oct 2025).
   4. Rolnik D, Wright D, Poon L. ASPRE Trial: Performance of Screening for Preterm Preeclampsia. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 50: 492–495.
   5. O’Gorman N, Nicolaides K, Poon L. The Use of Ultrasound and Other Markers for Early Detection of Preeclampsia.Women’s Health (Lond) 2016; 12(2): 199–207.