Preeclampsia: an old disease with new tools for better diagnosis and risk management.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. PE is a common disease in pregnant women and is considered to be a major cause of preterm delivery. While PE is cured only by placental delivery, patients with stable disease can be managed up to 37 weeks of gestation by antihypertensive drugs. Successful management of PE greatly reduces maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Delayed treatment can lead to eclampsia and life-threatening complications such as stroke and pulmonary edema, which underscore the importance of early detection.