Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a common complication of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, weight gain and protein in the urine. Its cause is unknown. Preeclampsia affects 5% to 10% of pregnancies in the United States and Europe and is among the major contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The Preeclampsia Foundation estimates that it costs over $7 billion per year in the United States alone to care for the hypertensive complications of mothers and for babies born prematurely because of preeclampsia. A biomarker that identifies women at greatest risk, or a biomarker that detects the onset of preeclampsia before serious symptoms develop, would enable more advanced risk management strategies and investigation of novel interventions. We are in the planning phase of a project to identify a biomarker for prediction or early detection of preeclampsia.