We describe a method of detecting pre-eclampsia in a cell, tissue, organ or organism, the method comprising detecting a modulated level of expression, activity or amount of a pre-eclampsia biomarker polypeptide selected from the group consisting of PlGF, FLT1, BNP, ANP, CD9, PAI-1, TGF β, PCT, SI 00b, TIMP1, CD 105 and IL6 in or of a microparticle type (selected from a CTB binding microparticle and an Annexin V binding microparticle) from the cell, tissue, organ or organism, as compared to level of expression, activity or amount of the pre-eclampsia biomarker polypeptide in the same microparticle type in a cell, tissue, organ or organism not sufferin from pre-eclampsia.