title: Etiology of preeclampsia: an update.
abstract: Preeclampsia still ranks as one of obstetrics major problems. Clinicians typically encounter preeclampsia as maternal disease with variable degrees of fetal involvement. More and more the unique immunogenetic maternal - paternal relationship is appreciated, and as such also the specific 'genetic conflict' that is characteristic of haemochorial placentation. Factors influencing the unique maternal-fetal (paternal) interaction probably include the length and type of sexual relationship, the maternal (decidual natural killer cells) acceptation of the invading cytotrophoblast (paternal HLA-C), and seminal levels of transforming growth factor-b and probably other cytokines. The magnitude of the maternal response would be determined by factors including a maternal set of genes determining her characteristic inflammatory responsiveness, age, quality of her endothelium, obesity/insulin resistance and probably a whole series of susceptibility genes amongst which the thrombophilias received a lot of attention in recent years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Lyell McEwin Health Service, Haydown Road, Elizabeth Vale 5112, SA.
authors.forename: Gus
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Nares
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sukcharoen
mesh_terms: D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010929:Placentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens