Pre Eclampsia

Preeclampsia is a multisystem progressive disorder characterized by the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria or the new onset of hypertension and significant end-organ dysfunction with or without proteinuria in the last half of pregnancy or postpartum ). It is caused by placental and maternal vascular dysfunction and resolves after delivery over a variable period of time. Although approximately 90 percent of cases present in the late preterm (≥34 to <37 weeks), term (≥37 to <42 weeks), or postpartum (≥42 weeks) period and have good maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes, the mother and child are still at increased risk for serious morbidity or mortality. The remaining 10 percent of cases have an early presentation (<34 weeks) and carry the additional high risks associated with moderately preterm, very preterm, or extremely preterm birth. Long-term, patients with preeclampsia are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular and renal disease.