Paternal factors may well also be relevant as risk factors for pre-
eclampsia [1], a relationship I first heard of in Ibadan in 1978. No doubt
there are no good controlled studies to support this assertion so
correctly Duckitt and Harrington did not include this factor in their
list. (Family history is included but only maternal family history)
And yet their list is likely to be oft quoted as a definitive list,
but in fact it is only a list of those factors that have level I evidence
to support them. I am a great fan of Evidence Based Medicine, but do feel
that articles like this should at least mention other known factors - this
would ensure a better perspective for the majority of readers who can not
read every article in great depth.
Dr D H Jobson
General Practitioner and sometime Obstetrician in the Gambia.
[1]
BMJ 1998;316:1343-1347 ( 2 May )
Rapid Response:
EBM can confound
Paternal factors may well also be relevant as risk factors for pre- eclampsia [1], a relationship I first heard of in Ibadan in 1978. No doubt there are no good controlled studies to support this assertion so correctly Duckitt and Harrington did not include this factor in their list. (Family history is included but only maternal family history)
And yet their list is likely to be oft quoted as a definitive list, but in fact it is only a list of those factors that have level I evidence to support them. I am a great fan of Evidence Based Medicine, but do feel that articles like this should at least mention other known factors - this would ensure a better perspective for the majority of readers who can not read every article in great depth.
Dr D H Jobson General Practitioner and sometime Obstetrician in the Gambia. [1] BMJ 1998;316:1343-1347 ( 2 May )
Competing interests: None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests