Early prediction and prevention of pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia remains an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality. The ability to predict the most severe forms of pre-eclampsia would allow closer surveillance and earlier intervention to improve outcomes. Although no definitive preventative treatment has been found to date, it is likely that prospective treatments would need to start early in pregnancy to alter pathogenesis. Following recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of this complex syndrome, new predictive tests are being evaluated. The most promising models incorporate biochemical and biophysical tests that combine assessments of placentation and maternal disease susceptibility.