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Pre-eclampsia affects 2–8% of pregnancies worldwide. [4] [17] [12] Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (which include pre-eclampsia) are one of the most common causes of death due to pregnancy. [6] They resulted in 46,900 deaths in 2015. [7] Pre-eclampsia usually occurs after 32 weeks; however, if it occurs earlier it is associated with worse ...
Eclampsia is the onset of seizures (convulsions) in a woman with pre-eclampsia. [1] Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that presents with three main features: new onset of high blood pressure, large amounts of protein in the urine or other organ dysfunction, and edema.
Generally, in mothers with preeclampsia, labor is induced once the gestational age is >37 weeks. [13] In patients with preeclampsia with severe features or eclampsia, labor is induced once the gestational age is >34 weeks. [13] In patients with gestational hypertension and no other signs of severe disease, labor is generally induced at term. [13]
Treatment of this condition is very similar to treatment of non-gravid heart failure patients, however, safety of the fetus must be prioritized. For example, for anticoagulation due to increased risk for thromboembolism, low molecular weight heparin which is safe for use during pregnancy is used instead of warfarin which crosses the placenta.
Eclampsia is a complication of pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects some pregnant women
HELLP syndrome occurs in about 0.7% of pregnancies and affects about 15% of women with eclampsia or severe pre-eclampsia. [5] [2] Death of the mother is uncommon (< 1%). [1] [3] Outcomes in the babies are generally related to how premature they are at birth. [1] The syndrome was first named in 1982 by American gynaecologist Louis Weinstein. [2]
The genetic roots of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are certain, as women with a family history of the condition are three times more likely to develop it when they are pregnant. [25] One of the potential causes of gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia is when the trophoblast does not invade far enough into the uterine lining. [26]
The causes of preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome are unknown, but those dealing with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and having multiples (twins, triplets etc.) are at greater risk.