GenPE study: Genetics and Pre-eclampsia.

Juan Casas

Liam Smeeth, Aroon D Hingorani, John Whittaker, Norma Serrano.

Pre-eclampsia is multi-organ syndrome of pregnancy that is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In spite of some advances in knowledge, we are still unable to predict or prevent the disorder. The discovery of genetic variants affecting susceptibility would contribute substantially to knowledge about the biological mechanisms underlying disease and suggest potential new approaches to treatment and prediction. Additionally, genetic disease related variants would be of great use in investigating the causality of a number of associated biomarkers via Mendelian randomisation.

Building on the Colombian GenPE study, which is the largest case-control study of pre-eclampsia worldwide we propose a genome-wide association study to identify genetic variants associated with the disease. 2000 cases and 2500 controls will be genotyped using the platform established by the Wellcome Trust Cases Control Consortium.

Replication of initial positive findings will be undertaken firstly in the UK GOPEC study of preeclampsia that includes around 1000 cases. We will also replicate findings in an additional 1000 Colombian cases and matched controls who will be recruited by the end of 2008 as part of the GenPE study.