Skin Diseases & Skin Care

Brief Report

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, most commonly the liver and kidneys. Pre-eclampsia usually develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women with normal blood pressure.

Pre-eclampsia, if left untreated, can cause serious – even fatal – complications for both you and your baby. If you have preeclampsia, the most effective treatment is to have your baby delivered. Even after the baby is delivered, it may take some time for you to recover.

Pre-eclampsia can sometimes develop after a baby is born, a condition known as postpartum pre-eclampsia.

Symptoms

Pre-eclampsia can occur without any symptoms. High blood pressure can develop gradually or suddenly. Monitoring your blood pressure is an important part of prenatal care because a rise in blood pressure is often the first sign of pre-eclampsia. A blood pressure reading of 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) or higher, recorded on two separate occasions at least four hours apart, is considered abnormal.

Pre-eclampsia can cause rapid weight gain and swelling (edoema), especially in the face and hands. However, because these symptoms occur in many normal pregnancies, they are not considered reliable indicators of Pre-eclampsia.

Risk factors

Pre-eclampsia occurs only as a result of a pregnancy complication. Risk factors include:

History of pre-eclampsia: A personal or family history of preeclampsia significantly increases your risk.

Chronic hypertension: If you already have chronic hypertension, you are more likely to develop pre-eclampsia.

The first pregnancy: During your first pregnancy, you are most likely to develop pre-eclampsia.

New paternity: Each pregnancy with a new partner raises the risk of pre-eclampsia more than a second or third with the same partner.

Age: Pre-eclampsia is more common in very young pregnant women as well as pregnant women over the age of 35.

Race: Black women are more likely than other races to develop pre-eclampsia.

Obesity: Obesity increases the risk of pre-eclampsia.

Multiple pregnancies: Pre-eclampsia is more common in pregnant women who have twins, triplets, or other multiples.

Interval between pregnancies: Having babies less than two years apart or more than ten years apart increases the risk of Preeclampsia.

History of certain conditions: Having chronic high blood pressure, migraines, type 1 or type-2 diabetes, kidney disease, a tendency to develop blood clots, or lupus before becoming pregnant increases your risk of Pre-eclampsia.

In vitro fertilization (IVF): If your baby was conceived through in vitro fertilisation, your risk of pre-eclampsia is increased.

Complications

The greater the severity of your pre-eclampsia and the earlier it occurs in your pregnancy, the greater the risks for you and your baby. Pre-eclampsia may necessitate induction of labour and delivery.

If there are clinical or obstetric conditions that necessitate a quick delivery, a caesarean delivery (C-section) may be required. Otherwise, your doctor may advise you to have a scheduled vaginal delivery. Your obstetrician will discuss with you which type of delivery is best for your situation.

Complications of Pre-eclampsia may include:

Fetal growth restriction: Pre-eclampsia causes problems with the arteries that carry blood to the placenta. If the placenta does not receive enough blood, your baby may receive insufficient blood, oxygen, and nutrients. This can result in foetal growth restriction, low birth weight, or premature birth.

Preterm birth: If you have severe pre-eclampsia, you may need to be delivered early to save your and your baby's lives. Prematurity can cause breathing problems and other issues for your baby. Your health care provider will assist you in determining the best time for your delivery.

Placental abruption: Pre-eclampsia increases your risk of placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of your uterus before delivery. Severe abruption can result in heavy bleeding, which can be fatal for both you and your baby.

HELLP syndrome: HELLP syndrome, which stands for hemolysis (red blood cell destruction), elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count, is a more severe form of Pre-eclampsia that can quickly become life-threatening for both you and your baby.

HELLP syndrome symptoms include nausea and vomiting, headache, and upper right abdominal pain. HELLP syndrome is especially dangerous because it involves damage to multiple organ systems. It can appear suddenly, even before high blood pressure is detected, or it can appear without any symptoms at all.

Eclampsia: When Pre-eclampsia is not controlled, eclampsia (Preeclampsia plus seizures) can develop. It is extremely difficult to predict which patients will develop pre-eclampsia severe enough to cause eclampsia.

Often, no symptoms or warning signs exist to predict eclampsia. Because eclampsia can have serious consequences for both mom and baby, regardless of how far along the pregnancy is, delivery becomes necessary.

Other organ damage: Damage to other organs pre-eclampsia can harm the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and eyes, as well as cause a stroke or other brain injury. The extent of damage to other organs is determined by the severity of pre-eclampsia.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD): Pre-eclampsia may increase your chances of developing heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease in the future. If you've had pre-eclampsia more than once or had a preterm delivery, your risk is even higher. To reduce this risk, try to maintain your ideal weight after delivery, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and don't smoke.