Early induction in high-risk women cuts pre-eclampsia by nearly a third, finds trial

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By Olivia Bowthorpe

Screening pregnant women for risk of pre-eclampsia at about 36 weeks' gestation, and offering an induction to those at highest risk, can significantly cut cases, a large UK trial found.

Planned birth at 37 to 40 weeks lowered the rate of pre-eclampsia by around 30%, without an increase in emergency caesarean births or neonatal admissions.