The study is focused on the investigation of possible associations between plasma/serum levels of agouti related peptide (AgRP) and its genetic background in healthy women with physiological pregnancy (non-preeclamptic) and women with preeclampsia, in the postpartum period, and in their offspring.

The study is focused on investigation of possible genotype-phenotype interactions of agouti-related peptide (AgRP) in postpartum non-preeclamptic women and preeclamptic women and in their offspring.

Inclusion Criteria:

• For preeclampsia:

  • development of hypertension after the 20th week of pregnancy (systolic blood pressure, ≥140 mmHg; and/or diastolic blood pressure, ≥90 mmHg; measured at rest on two consecutive occasions at least 24 h apart) in previously normotensive women, and the onset of proteinuria (>300 mg of urinary protein/L over 24 h)
  • single-fetus pregnancy
  • age range 18-35 y
  • no preconceptional history of hypertension

• For mother with physiological pregnancies:

  • uncomplicated
  • spontaneous conception
  • single-fetus pregnancy
  • age range 18-35 y
  • spontaneous uncomplicated delivery
  • no history of preconceptional hypertension

Exclusion Criteria:

• For preeclampsia:

  • multiple pregnancy
  • preeclampsia superimposed to chronic hypertension preceding pregnancy
  • kidney disease
  • fetal malformations

• For mothers with physiological pregnancies:

  • in vitro fertilization
  • fetal malformations
  • multiple pregnancy
  • events of bleeding

Patients of the Masaryk university afilliated hospital, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology,hospitalized due to preeclampsia or healthy women with uncomplicated conception, pregnancy and delivery that came to give birth at the Clinic. Along with the mothers, their offspring in included in the study. The study population originated from a static region of the Czech Republic - South Moravia.