Preeclampsia,a pregnancy disorder characterised by hypertension and proteinuria, complicates 2–8% of all pregnancies and accounts for 25% of all maternal deaths. Preeclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.2,3The aetiology of preeclampsia remains largely unknown. It has been hypothesised that abnormal trophoblast invasion, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are all potential contributing factors in this disorder.4,5