Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had been normal.

Signs and Symptoms

Preeclampsia sometimes develops without any symptoms. High blood pressure may develop slowly, or it may have a sudden onset. Monitoring your blood pressure is an important part of prenatal care because the first sign of preeclampsia is commonly a rise in blood pressure. Blood pressure that exceeds 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or greater — documented on two occasions, at least four hours apart — is abnormal.

Causes

The exact cause of preeclampsia involves several factors. Experts believe it begins in the placenta — the organ that nourishes the fetus throughout pregnancy. Early in pregnancy, new blood vessels develop and evolve to efficiently send blood to the placenta.

Risk Factors

Some types of preeclampsia are more dangerous than others. Risk factors for preeclampsia include: history of preeclampsia, multiple pregnancy, obesity, first pregnancy, maternal age, family history of preeclampsia, past history of diabetes, kidney disease, lupus, chronic hypertension.

Prevention

Currently, the only way to cure preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. If you're diagnosed with preeclampsia too early in your pregnancy to deliver your baby, you and your doctor face a challenging task. Your baby needs more time to mature, but you need to avoid putting yourself or your baby at risk of serious complications.

See Also

• Eclampsia
• Gestational hypertension
• HELLP syndrome
• Chronic hypertension and pregnancy

References

Preeclampsia Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia