Patent ID: 8530150

Claim:
A method for detecting a risk of a pregnant female mammal developing pre-eclampsia or a complication linked thereto, or of a fetus of the pregnant female mammal developing a fetal or neonatal deficiency linked to maternal pre-eclampsia, comprising: detecting the level of a VEGF xxx b in a sample from the pregnant female mammal before the end of the second trimester of the mammal's pregnancy; comparing the detected level with a reference level, wherein a level in the sample of the pregnant female mammal below the reference level is indicative of a risk of the pregnant female mammal developing pre-eclampsia or a complication linked thereto or of the fetus developing the fetal or neonatal deficiency linked to maternal pre-eclampsia; and increasing the level of a VEGF xxx b in the pregnant female mammal when the detected level is below the reference level by administering a VEGF xxx b active agent to the pregnant female mammal.