Searching for new biomarkers for preeclampsia: is there a role for corin?

Johannes J. (Hans) Duvekot1 and Jeanine E. Roeters van Lennep2* 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands 2Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands Pre-eclampsia (PE) is still one of the most important causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The pathogenesis of PE remains obscure due to its heterogeneous, multi-systemic nature. Various theories have been put forward to explain the pathogenesis and involve genetic predisposition, immune system dysregulation, placental ischemia and inflammation. At present, failure of adequate trophoblastic invasion in the maternal spiral arteries and spiral artery remodeling remains the most promising explanation. The pathophysiological event crucial to the development of the resulting clinical disease is generalized endothelial dysfunction [1].