RESUMO
A case control study was conducted in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital postpartum ward. A hundred pregnant women included in the study, 50 with preeclampsia anc 50 healthy pregnant women as a control group. A 5 cc blood sample was taken and centrifuged where the plasma was used to measure the selenium level. Selenium levels were statistically significantly lower in preeclampsia group than the control group irrespective to risk factors included in the study [GA, age, parity, Past history of hypertension, DM]. It was found that the risk decreases by 12% with increase the selenium level by 1 mg/100 cm[3]. Low selenium level could be a risk factor for developing PE. Further studies are needed to assess the effect of dietary habit of the selenium content of different foods on the level of the selenium and its effect on preeclampsia