Pre-eclampsia - the condition that kills 100,000 pregnant women and 500,000 babies every year globally

The first ever World Pre-eclampsia Day takes place today, highlighting a condition that kills 100,000 pregnant women and 500,000 babies every year globally, writes Ailin Quinlan

IT is described in the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians, and mentioned in the writings of Hippocrates, yet there’s still neither a screening test nor a cure for one of the most frightening medical conditions for pregnant women.

Pre-eclampsia can cause seizures and even death. Readers may remember Lady Sybil, in the hit TV series, Downtown Abbey, who had convulsions and tragically died of eclampsia.