To dissect the contribution of neutrophil activation and anti-angiogenic factors in severe preeclampsia we investigated the relationships between the circulating markers of neutrophil activation/inflammation status (α-defensins, calprotectin and IL-6) and anti-angiogenic factors (sEng and sFlt-1) in severe preeclampsia or systemic inflammatory state during pregnancy. Here, IL6 is linked to preeclampsia.