Advance Access publication 27 November 2008 Translational Nephrology

syndrome; preeclampsia Preeclampsia is a systemic disorder of pregnancy charac-terized by widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction. Clinical manifestations of preeclampsia include placental hypoxia, hypertension, proteinuria and fluid retention. The condition is common and affects over 5 % of all pregnan-cies, thus remaining a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide [1]. Pregnancies com-plicated by preeclampsia are associated with greater risk and earlier onset of cardiovascular disease in both mother and infant [2,3]. Preeclampsia originates in the placenta, as it may occur only in the presence of placenta or a hydati-form mole and resolves dramatically postpartum after the delivery of the placenta. Generalized endothelial dysfunc-tion resulting in vasoconstriction and end-organ ischaemi