Objective: To investigate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) genotype frequencies in women with preeclampsia and elucidate its role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Methods: The study involved 133 preeclamptic and 115 healthy control women who were genotyped for a known functional variant of the PPARgamma gene using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Results: We found no association between PPARgamma polymorphism and the occurrence of preeclampsia. In affected women, the clinical course of preeclampsia was no different among the three PPARgamma genotypes. Conclusion: Our data does not support a role for PPARgamma gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Accordingly, it is unlikely that PPARgamma polymorphism influences the severity of preeclampsia. Precis: There is no association between PPARgamma polymorphism and the occurrence or severity of preeclampsia. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.