Pre-eclampsia - long-term risk of hypertension?

In a recent study in the British Medical Journal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2955489.stm) those women who had experienced raised blood pressure in pregnancy had a long-term risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), an increased risk of stroke and a slightly increased risk of heart disease.

Pre-eclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy (normally in late pregnancy), or immediately after the delivery of a baby.

Women develop high blood pressure, together with protein in their urine (leaked from their kidneys) and fluid retention (oedema).

Although pre-eclampsia is usually mild, it should always be taken seriously because, in a few cases, it can cause complications, such as growth problems in the baby and can in some instances result in the death of the mother or child.