On Mar. 4, 2003, Beth Israel Deaconess researchers pinpointed the source of preeclampsia, a life-threatening complication of pregnancy.

Also known as toxemia, preeclampsia occurs in an estimated 5 percent of all pregnancies, affecting approximately 200,000 women in the U.S. each year. The condition typically develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and in mild cases, is characterized by high blood pressure, edema, and protein in the urine. In severe cases, the condition can rapidly develop into eclampsia, in which the mother suffers serious – and potentially fatal – seizures.

These findings, which could help lead to the development of diagnostic tools and therapies for this baffling condition, were published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.