Pre-eclampsia natural history, complications and prognosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Zand, M.D.[2] Ogheneochuko Ajari, MB.BS, MS [3]

Preeclampsic patients are usually asymptomatic and may deteriorate rapidly without any specific signs and symptoms. Early clinical feature after 20 weeks of gestation include blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, proteinuria, evidence of maternal organ involvement. Common complications of preeclampsia include: intrauterin growth retardation (IUGR), uteroplacental insufficiency, fetal asphyxia or fetal death, maternal seizures, and maternal death. Long term complication of preeclampsia include: chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease, thromboembolism, hypothyroidism, and impaired memory. Prognosis is generally good after delivery and controlling maternal hypertension. The five-year mortality rate of the patients with preeclampsia is approximately 0.4%.

• Preeclampsic patients are usually asymptomatic and may deteriorate rapidly without any specific signs and symptoms. ^[1]
• Early clinical feature after 20 weeks of gestation include blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg, proteinuria, evidence of maternal organ involvement.

• Common complications of preeclampsia include:

• Intrauterin growth retardation (IUGR)
• Uteroplacental insufficiency
• Fetal asphyxia or fetal death
• Maternal seizures
• Maternal death

• Long term complication of preeclampsia include:^[2]

• Chronic hypertension
• Diabetes mellitus
• Ischemic heart disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Kidney disease
• Thromboembolism
• Hypothyroidism
• Impaired memory

• Prognosis is generally good after delivery with controlling maternal hypertension. The 5 year mortality rate of the patients with preeclampsia is approximately 0.4%.^[3]