Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder affecting ~5.3% of sub-Saharan African women and significantly increases the risk of morbidity and mortality to both mother and the new born. The underlying cause is largely due to abnormal placental development, leading to placental stress affecting the maternal and fetal compartments. The condition has no ‘cure’; symptoms are largely managed until delivery. Clinical symptoms of preeclampsia are detected on or after 20 weeks of gestation. The multifactorial etiology associated with the disorder makes it difficult to prevent, diagnose or treat. This makes identification of biological target significant particularly for sub-Saharan Africa where the condition is rising against the high burden of infectious diseases and other non-communicable conditions. Identification of biomarkers could provide pathophysiologic insights ultimately providing a pathway for the development of preventive tools and new diagnostics and therapeutics with the potential of minimizing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.