Preeclampsia — Searching for the Cause

Three to 5 percent of pregnancies in the United States are complicated by preeclampsia, a multisystem disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preeclampsia is associated with substantial risks. For the fetus, these include intrauterine growth restriction, death, and prematurity with attendant complications, whereas the mother is at risk for seizures (eclampsia), renal failure, pulmonary edema, stroke, and death. Despite considerable research, the cause or causes of preeclampsia remain unclear, and there are no clinically useful screening tests to identify women in whom it will develop. Antihypertensive therapy lowers maternal blood pressure but does . . .