pre-eclampsia

Headline
Etiology ↓ spiral artery formation → ↑ uterine spiral artery resistance → compensatory ↑BP. >20/40 else likely pre-existing.
Epidemiology Risk factors: hypertension in prev. pregnancy, CKD, autoimmune disease, diabetes, chronic hypertension, new sexual partner/first child
Clinical presentation headache, blurry vision, RUQ pain, proteinuria
No proteinuria = pregnancy induced hypertension
Pathogenesis
Diagnostic investigations
Management Aspirin 75-120mg from week 12
➥ Proteinuria: screen with dipstick ⇒ quantify with ACR/PCR
➥ Avoid ACE-i/ARBs: ↑ risk congenital renal abnormalities
➥ Target SBP < 140 Target ≤135/85???
➥ BP control: 1st line = labetalol 100-200mg; 2nd line = nifedipine; 3rd line = methyl-dopa
➥ ⚠ ↑ BP with oxytocin/ergometrine during labour
Complications: progression to eclampsia (https://smolmedic.github.io/#Eclampsia); oligohydramnios, intracranial haemorrhage

Common risk factors for preeclampsia: (RR = relative risk)(32487899)

  • History of preeclampsia (RR ~7; risk of recurrence is ~20%).
  • Chronic hypertension (incidence of ~20%).(Vincent 2023)
  • Diabetes (RR ~3.5); Renal disease.
  • Body mass index >35 (RR ~1.5).
  • Thrombophilia; lupus; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (RR ~10).
  • Age >40 (RR ~1.7).
  • Multifetal pregnancy (RR ~3); first pregnancy (RR ~2.9).
    copied shamelessly from IBCC