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Pre-eclampsia affects many pregnancies and is suspected when a woman have high blood pressure. It can cause fits, stroke and liver problems.
Researchers studied the genetic make-up of babies born from pre-eclamptic pregnancies and compared their DNA with healthy babies.
Improper formation of placenta is associated with pre-eclampsia. The baby’s genes that produces the placenta was examined to see if their is a link between the baby’s DNA and pre-eclampsia.
There were some features in a baby’s DNA that can increase the risk of pre-eclampsia. Baby’s DNA comes from its parent’s genes, DNA changes linked with pre-eclampsia are common in people carrying this sequence in their DNA so the inherited changes increase the risk.
Researchers discovered that DNA variations close to the gene that makes a protein called sFlt-1 with significant differences between the babies born from pre-eclamptic pregnancies and normal babies.
At high levels sFlt-1 released from the placenta into the mother’s bloodstream can cause damage to her blood vessels, causing high blood pressure, kidneys, liver and brain damage. A baby carrying these genetic variants increases the risk of pre-eclamptic pregnancy.