(August 20, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy are at increased risk for developing serious kidney disease later in life, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some facts about preeclampsia:

•       It is a condition that affects about 5 to 8% of pregnancies, occurring during pregnancy or immediately after.

•       It is a progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.

•       Without treatment, preeclampsia can progress and become life-threatening to both mother and child.

Researchers from Haukeland University Hospital in Norway linked data from the Medical Birth Registry and the Norwegian Renal Registry to analyze the association between preeclampsia and the development of kidney disease serious enough to require dialysis or transplantation.

Women who had experienced preeclampsia were between three and fifteen times more likely to later have failing kidneys. The more pregnancies they had and the more frequently they had preeclampsia, the more likely they were to develop kidney problems. Having a low birth weight or preterm infant also contributed to the risk for failing kidneys.

Today's research highlights the fact that preeclampsia can be a sign of a later increased risk of serious kidney disease. Although the absolute risk for these women is low, it is important to keep it in mind when making decisions for their medical care.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.