Update on gestational hypertension

Abstract

The discussions regarding classification and diagnosis of the complex disease preeclampsia continue. New genetic, genomic and proteomic approaches are beginning to identify novel candidate genes and proteins that may be involved in the etiology of preeclampsia, such as neurokinin B and STOX-1. Preeclampsia is associated with increased risk of future maternal vascular and renal disease. The approaching obesity epidemic is likely to have a huge impact on pregnancy complications, including the incidence of preeclampsia. The oxidative hypothesis of the etiology of preeclampsia has suffered a setback with the failure of the antioxidant vitamin trials in preeclampsia. However, parallels with cardiovascular disease research would suggest that intracellular antioxidants might prove more effective. Understanding the role of inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface remains an important goal in pregnancy research. © 2006 Future Medicine Ltd.