Preeclampsia -- high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy -- is one of the most common causes of death in pregnant women. Delivering the baby is the only reliable treatment; preeclampsia is a major cause of premature babies.
Preeclampsia can be hard to diagnose, too. Till now, anyway. Yale University researchers have just reported that a simple urine test for misfolded proteins -- including the protein for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency -- is rapid, non-invasive and a "definitive" diagnosis for preeclampsia.
Are women with the abnormal Alpha-1 gene more likely to get preeclampsia?
Nobody knows yet, but it's fascinating.