Pre-eclampsia

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In obstetrics, pre-eclampsia is "a complication of pregnancy, characterized by a complex of symptoms including maternal hypertension and proteinuria with or without pathological edema. Symptoms may range between mild and severe. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of gestation, but may develop before this time in the presence of trophoblastic disease.[1]

The presence of pre-eclampsia is defined by:[2]

  • Systolic blood pressure greater than 140mm, or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90mm, after 20 weeks of gestation
  • Proteinuria in excess of 0.3 grams in 24 hours.

It progresses to severe pre-eclampsia with the criteria:

  • Systolic blood pressure greater than 160mm, or diastolic blood pressure greater than 110mm
  • Proteinuria in excess of 5 grams in 24 hours or a 4+ by dipstick
  • Oliguria with urinary output less than 500 ml in 24 hours
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • The HELLP syndrome of hemolysis, eleveted liver enzymes, and low platelets
  • Pulmonary edema
  • Fetal growth restriction


References

  1. Anonymous (2024), Pre-eclampsia (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. William R. Crombleholme (2005), Chapter 18, Obstetric, in Lawrence M. Tierney Jr., Stephen J. McPhee, Maxine A. Papadakis, Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment (Forty-fourth Edition ed.), Lange/McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0071453237, pp. 747-759