Doctors may soon be able to test women early in pregnancy to identify the risk of their developing the deadly condition, pre-eclampsia, according to a Norwegian study.
The researchers say they have identified a range of chemicals that indicate risk of the condition developing.
According to the new study, the condition is marked by a range of chemicals similar to those released during heart disease, indicating inflammation within the body.
It eventually leads to women suffering dangerously high blood pressure as they approach childbirth.
But the researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology say they hope their test can be developed to identify the condition much earlier.
According to researcher Marie Austdal the condition has its origins in the first three months of pregnancy when the placenta fails to develop properly.
She says there are also differences in levels of cholesterol in women who are going to develop the condition.
The findings were reported in PLoS One yesterday.
Ms Austdal said: "The differences suggest that preeclampsia has a similar profile to cardiovascular disease, and the inflammatory processes are reflected in the blood and urine of affected women.
"This abnormal metabolism may be present earlier, so that the disease may be predicted before onset."
PLoS One 17 March 2014 [abstract]
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