Scientists hunt for hidden culprit behind dangerous pregnancy condition

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion 1. Preeclampsia patients: Age ≥ 18 years; Diagnosis of preeclampsia with severe features: 1. BP ≥160/110 after 20 weeks gestation AND ≥300 mg/day proteinuria or protein/creatinine ratio of 0.3 mg/dL; OR 2. BP ≥160/110 after 20 weeks gestation with any of the following co-conditions: platelet count less than 100,000 X 109/L, AST/ALT enzymes elevated to twice the upper limit of normal, serum creatinine ≥1.1 mg/dL or a doubling of the creatinine from baseline, pulmonary edema, new-onset headache, and/or visual disturbances. 2. Control patients: Age ≥ 18 years; no diagnosis of preeclampsia or any pregnancy-induced hypertension disorder. 3. Pre-clampsia patients will be defined as =140 mmHg systolic or =90mmHg diastolic BP with at least at least 2 occasions 4 hours apart after 20 weeks of gestation in previously normotensive women with at least one of the following symptoms: =300 mg/day proteinuria, protein/creatinine ratio of 0.3 mg/dL, platelet count \< 100,000 X 109/L, elevated liver enzymes, serum creatinine =1.1 mg/dL, pulmonary edema, or new-onset headache or visual disturbances. 1. \>22w 0d gestational age -33w 6d GA (n=16) 2. \>= 34 wGA (n=16) 4. Pre-eclampsia with severe features will be defined as blood pressure =160 mmHg systolic or =110 mmHg diastolic BP at least 2 occasions 4 hours apart after 20 weeks of gestation with any of the additional diagnostic criteria listed above. 1. \>22w 0d gestational age -33w 6d GA (n=16) 2. \>= 34 wGA (n=16) 5. Healthy gestational age matched controls: 1. \>22w 0d gestational age -33w 6d GA (n=32) 2. \>= 34 wGA (n=32) Exclusion criteria: 1. Preeclampsia patients: Age \< 18 years; Any other diagnosis of pregnancy-induced hypertension that isn't preeclampsia with severe features (i.e. gestational hypertension or preeclampsia without severe features). 2. Control Patients: Age \< 18 years; Any diagnosis of pregnancy-induced hypertension.