There was a corresponding increase in production of downstream neutrophil activation markers, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase, MMP8 and the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in women with preeclampsia compared to healthy controls at time of disease, indicating that complete activation of neutrophil pro-inflammatory phenotype only became evident late in pregnancy in preeclampsia. This evidence concerns the gene MMP8 and preeclampsia.