DALLAS, Texas — Stephanie Pipes experienced normal blood pressure throughout her pregnancy. However, during a routine workday, her blood pressure unexpectedly spiked. Concerned for her health and that of her unborn child, Pipes called her OB-GYN, Angela Angel, M.D., who is on the medical staff at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and a member of Texas Health Physicians Group.

Cameron and Stephanie Pipes with Dr. Angel

“Dr. Angel educated us on the signs of preeclampsia early on, so I knew something was not right,” said Pipes.

Preeclampsia is a serious condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth. Without treatment, preeclampsia can cause serious health problems to the mother and baby, including seizures or even death.

Last year, Texas Health Dallas was the first hospital in Texas to start using a new blood test cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to identify severe preeclampsia. The test is available at all Texas Health facilities.

“This test measures the blood levels of two placental biomarkers, which when paired together as a ratio, can stratify the risk for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy into low- and high-risk categories for developing severe preeclampsia within two weeks of testing,” said Cirila Villa, M.H.A., B.S., MLS(ASCP), the core laboratory manager at Texas Health Dallas. “This was a test we knew would benefit many women in the area, so we were eager to add it as another way to care for our patients.”

In the first quarter of 2025, 64 tests were completed at Texas Health Dallas, and 36 patients came back at high risk. Pipes was one of them.

“Her results were the highest I had seen since the test became available at the hospital,” said Angel. “This early detection enabled us to take the necessary precautions to provide the best possible care for both mother and baby.”

Pipes was admitted to the hospital Jan. 31, so she could be closely monitored. Days later, she started to show symptoms of severe preeclampsia.

“Based on symptoms and blood pressure for a mother who has severe preeclampsia, the only treatment is delivery,” said Angel.

Eloise arrived eight weeks early on Feb. 3, as Pipes’ severe preeclampsia worsened. Eloise spent 48 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Dallas.

“You go to Texas Health Dallas when you are expecting. That’s what the Margot Perot Center is known for, but I also think there is also something special about giving birth to Eloise where I was born, too,” said Pipes. “We will never be able to say thank you enough to the NICU and everyone involved in our care at Texas Health Dallas for what they did for us.”

Texas Health Dallas has a Level III NICU, which provides comprehensive care for infants born at all gestational ages and birth weights, with mild to complex critical conditions or medical problems.

“We are committed to improving maternal health at Texas Health Dallas,” said Chris York, hospital president. “Eloise's story is a testament to the importance of early detection and treatment in the fight against preeclampsia to help prevent severe complications for both the mother and baby.”