New Research on Preeclampsia
Scientists have reported that "two proteins secreted by the placenta may be responsible for virtually all cases of preeclampsia, a severe complication of pregnancy that can be fatal to a mother or her baby." There is hope that this knowledge will lead to both a more timely diagnosis and an effective treatment of the condition, which is responsible for 15% of the maternal deaths each year.
This article explains that 270,000 women suffer from preeclampsia each year in the United States. "Usually diagnosed late in pregnancy, the disorder is characterized by sharp increases in blood pressure, swelling and proteins in the urine. It can progress to eclampsia, which produces seizures and often fatal complications of the liver, kidneys, lungs, blood and nervous system."
The results of the study can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine. (The link is to an abstract of the article; registration required.)