Medical researchers in Coventry have discovered a new treatment that could prevent the deaths of thousands of women in the developing world due to heavy blood loss after childbirth. <\/p>\n
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) happens when the uterus fails to contract properly after childbirth and the mother loses 500mls or more of blood in the 24 hours after delivery. <\/p>\n
PPH is responsible for maternal death in 1 in 1,000 deliveries in the developing world and, according to recent figures, PPH also complicates around 10 per cent of all births in England and Wales. <\/p>\n
The research team, led by Warwick Medical School in Coventry, has identified a new drug target called Kir7.1, which when restrained induces an acute and sustained uterine contraction that could help treat cases of PPH. Their findings have been published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. <\/p>\n
Lead author Dr Andrew Blanks, associate professor in reproductive health at Warwick Medical School, says the discovery is significant because there are currently no drugs available that are effective at treating PPH. <\/p>\n
He said: Often when a woman has been in labour for a long time, the uterus becomes exhausted and cannot contract as quickly as it should after delivery. <\/p>\n
\"Our treatment works via a separate mechanism of action to the drugs, oxytocics, that are currently used to induce labour. <\/p>\n
\"It bypasses the biochemical pathways which become exhausted and desensitised during a prolonged labour, we have demonstrated in principle that it should be more effective. <\/p>\n
The research team, which included colleagues from Washington University, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Newcastle University, and University of Edinburgh, worked with Medical Research Council Technology to develop drugs to the new target. <\/p>\n
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Coventry medical researchers develop new treatment to prevent birth-related deaths<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Medical researchers in Coventry have discovered a new treatment that could prevent the deaths of thousands of women in the developing world due to heavy blood loss after childbirth. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) happens when the uterus fails to contract properly after childbirth and the mother loses 500mls or more of blood in the 24 hours after delivery Continue reading