Preeclampsia is a condition in which high blood pressure (pregnancy-induced hypertension), proteinuria (protein in the urine), edema (swelling) and excessive weight gain occur during pregnancy. The condition usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy.
The placenta is the spongy material in the mother's uterus that nourishes the unborn child. Some experts believe that a problem with the placenta causes preeclampsia.
The mother has spasms of the blood vessels, which increase her blood pressure. The blood flow to the placenta is impaired. If the blood pressure is not controlled, it can damage the placenta and cause the death of the unborn child.
Preeclampsia develops in 2-4% of pregnant women. It usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It may be mild or severe.
The high blood pressure can affect the brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. If the high blood pressure in the brain causes swelling of or bleeding into the brain, the woman may have seizures. This complication is called eclampsia.
One in 2000 pregnant women who have preeclampsia will go on to have eclampsia in developed countries, while this is true in 1 in 100 to 1 in 1700 women in developing countries. The seizures of eclampsia are marked by general abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Usually the seizures start before the baby is born. Nearly all seizures begin within the first 24 hours after the baby is born. However, a few women develop seizures later, up to 3 weeks after the birth.
The cardinal signs of preeclampsia are; hypertensionproteinuria (protein in the urine)edemaexcessive weight gain
Other symptoms seen with preeclampsia may include: agitation and confusionchanges in mental statusdecreased urine outputheadachesnausea and vomitingpain in the right upper part of the abdomenshortness of breathsudden weight gain over 1 to 2 daysswelling of the face or handsvisual impairmentweight gain of more than 2 pounds per week
Women who have these symptoms are at high risk for eclampsia. Usually there are no clues or warning signs before a seizure.
A woman with eclampsia may have one or many seizures. The seizures cause muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, and short-term memory problems. Afterward, the woman may breathe very rapidly to make up for the lack of oxygen during the seizure itself. A fever at this point is a sign of serious trouble.
During or after a seizure, a woman may: bite her tonguebreak bonesbreathe fluids into her lungsdevelop fluid and swelling in her lungs that make it hard to breatheexperience a detached retina in the eyeharm her head
Factors that increase a woman's risk of preeclampsia are: a first pregnancyAfrican American ethnicitydiabeteshigh blood pressure or chronic renal disease before pregnancyfamily history of pregnancy-induced hypertensionlow socioeconomic statusmaternal age below 20 or over 35molar pregnancy, an abnormal condition that mimics a normal pregnancy but is actually a tumormultiple gestation such as twins or tripletspreeclampsia or eclampsia in previous pregnanciesshe or the baby's father was born of a pregnancy with preeclampsia or eclampsiaone of the thrombophiliasantiphospholipid syndromeobesity
No one knows why some women with preeclampsia develop the seizures associated with eclampsia. Theories about why seizures might occur in pregnancy involve: small clots that block blood vessels in the brain and restrict oxygennarrowing of tiny arteries in the brainareas of bleeding in the brainhigh blood pressuredietary risksgenetic risksa problem with the brain or nervous system
There are no known ways to prevent preeclampsia or eclampsia. All pregnant women should have early prenatal care. Blood pressure changes should be watched closely.
Diagnosis of preeclampsia begins with a medical history and physical exam. The woman's blood pressure will be measured. The healthcare provider may order the following tests: complete blood count, or CBC, to look for abnormal blood cell countsblood tests to check clotting and liver functionurinalysis to look for protein in the urinecranial CT scan to check for bleeding or strokepregnancy ultrasound to check the age and condition of the fetus
If a woman develops seizures along with preeclampsia, she is then diagnosed as having eclampsia.
Eclampsia may cause pregnancy complications, including: increased risk for cesarean sectionintrauterine growth retardation, a lack of normal growth of the baby within the wombplacenta abruptio, or separation of the placenta from the uterine wallpremature laborstillbirthsuffocation at birth, or asphyxia
Eclampsia can also cause health problems that affect mother and baby, including: acute renal failure, or kidney failuredisseminated intravascular coagulation, or DIC, a clotting problem that causes widespread bleedingHELLP syndrome, which includes liver and blood disordersintracerebral hemorrhage and stroke
Rarely, a mother with eclampsia dies due to blood clots, liver or kidney failure, infection, or other complications. Women who have had eclampsia also have a higher lifetime risk of developing high blood pressure and dying due to heart attacks or strokes.
Eclampsia is not contagious. Both mother and baby are at risk for complications of preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Eclampsia is treated by delivering the baby. If the baby is 24 weeks or older and the cervix is unfavorable for labor, a cesarean birth is usually done. During a cesarean, the baby is delivered through an incision made in the abdomen.
Prolonging the pregnancy can harm the mother or cause the baby to die. Before a cesarean is done, the mother's seizures and blood pressure may need to be controlled with medicines. Magnesium sulfate is the medicine of choice to prevent and control seizures.
Diazepam (i.e., Valium) may be used if the magnesium sulfate doesn't stop seizures. Medicines such as hydralazine (i.e., Apresoline), diazoxide (i.e., Hyperstat, Proglycem), and labetalol (i.e., Trandate) can be used to lower the blood pressure.
A cesarean birth may cause bleeding, infection, or even death. Medicines used to treat eclampsia may cause low blood pressure, breathing difficulties, nausea, or allergic reactions.
After the baby is born, a woman may still have seizures for up to 6 weeks. Her provider will closely monitor blood pressure, urine and blood tests, and any other symptoms. If a baby is born prematurely and has health problems, hospitalization and care will be needed.
Twenty-five percent of women with eclampsia will have hypertension in subsequent pregnancies, but only 5% of these will be sever and only 2% will be eclamptic again.
Also, multiparous women with eclampsia (eclampsia in a pregnancy that is not the first pregnancy) are at higher risk for essential hypertension later in life and are at a higher risk for higher mortality in subsequent pregnancies.
Preeclampsia may recur in later pregnancies. Early prenatal care is key to recognizing warning signs and managing the condition. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.
