A complication of pregnancy when high levels of blood pressure are combined with heavy proteinuria, untreated can lead to maternal and/or fetal death.
A condition in pregnant women towards the end of the pregnancy which may lead to eclampsia. Symptoms are high blood pressure, oedema and protein in the urine.
Toxemia of pregnancy characterized by hypertension, albuminuria, edema of the lower extremities, and headaches that must be corrected to avoid true eclampsia.
A complication of pregnancy, of unknown cause, which in severe cases may proceed to eclampsia. It is characterized by hypertension, renal impairment and oedema, often with proteinuria and disseminated intravascular coagulation. It usually occurs in the second half of pregnancy mild cases (without proteinuria) occurring in about 10 per cent of pregnancies, severe cases in about 2 per cent. Predisposing factors include a first pregnancy, or pregnancy by a new partner; a family history of pre-eclampsia, hypertension, or other cardiovascular disorders; and pre-existing hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Increased incidence with lower socioeconomic class may be linked to diet or to failure to attend for antenatal care. Although less common in smokers, fetal outlook is worse. Multiple pregnancy and hydatidiform mole, together with hydrops fetalis, predispose to early and severe pre-eclampsia.
A grave condition that can emerge after 20 weeks of pregnancy, preeclampsia is characterized by elevated blood pressure, tissue swelling (edema), and the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria). In severe cases, symptoms might encompass headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and visual disruptions. Despite ongoing research, the exact cause of preeclampsia remains not completely comprehended.
A grave condition that can emerge after 20 weeks of pregnancy, preeclampsia is characterized by elevated blood pressure, tissue swelling (edema), and the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria). In severe cases, symptoms might encompass headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and visual disruptions. Despite ongoing research, the exact cause of preeclampsia remains not completely comprehended.
In certain instances, treatment involves bed rest and antihypertensive medications. Vigilant monitoring of the fetus’s well-being and placental function is essential. In cases of advanced pregnancy or severe conditions, labor induction or a caesarean section might become necessary. The onset of this condition can be thwarted through regular blood pressure assessments and urinalysis (to detect urine protein) as a component of prenatal care.