Preeclampsia afflicts one in 20 expectant mothers. A predecessor
of eclampsia, which brings on fatal seizures, the condition is
difficult to predict and hard to treat--often the only course of
action is an early delivery. Doctors still don't understand
exactly what causes preeclampsia, but two studies published
today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation provide new
insight into how the disease arises and could point to novel
therapies. Sharon E. Maynard of Harvard Medical School and her
colleagues determined that women suffering from preeclampsia
display elevated levels of a protein known as sFlt1, which is
produced by the placenta. This protein binds to two growth
factors--vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental
growth factor (PlGF)--that promote the development of new blood
vessels and the maintenance of the vascular system. According to
the report, high levels of sFlt1 could result in a compromised
vascular system by reducing the available amount of these growth
factors in the blood sup