Published Online
on October 17, 2005

A more recent version of this article appeared on December 1, 2005

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Submitted on June 14, 2005
Revised on July 1, 2005

Preeclampsia. Recent Insights

James M. Roberts^* and Hilary S. Gammill

From the Magee-Womens Research Institute (J.M.R.) and the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (J.M.R., H.S.G.), and Epidemiology (J.M.R.) University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: RSIJMR{at}mwri.magee.edu.

Abstract--Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication with serious consequences for mother and infant. The disorder is diagnosed by gestational hypertension and proteinuria but is far more than pregnancy induced hypertension. Preeclampsia is proposed to occur in 2 stages. Stage 1 reduced placental perfusion is postulated as the root cause and to lead to the maternal syndrome, Stage 2. Why perfusion is reduced, how this translates to a maternal disease in some but not all women and what is the linkage of the 2 stages are topics of intense study. In the last decade such studies have provided valuable insights into pathophysiology that now guide ongoing clinical trials.

Key words: preeclampsia • hypertension, pregnancy • oxidative stress • endothelium

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