Predisposition to pre-eclampsia

Roughly five per cent of pregnant women in Norway are stricken with pre-eclampsia. The reason behind the disease remains unknown, but now firm figures have revealed a connection to other illnesses.

A study conducted at NTNU’s Department of Public Health and General Medicine shows that women who are at risk of heart and circulatory diseases, obesity and diabetes are also clearly in the danger zone for pre-eclampsia. A family history of these illnesses gives a pregnant woman double the risk of pre-eclampsia, compared to women who do not have a family history of the illnesses.