Pre-eclampsia(Toxemia of Pregnancy; Pregnancy-induced Hypertension; Preeclampsia)Pronounced: pre-ee-clamp'-see-ah
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionPre-eclampsia is high blood pressure during pregnancy. You may also have too much protein in your urine. This condition can harm your organs.
Causes TOPThe cause is unknown. Risk Factors TOPPre-eclampsia is more common in women aged 40 years and older. Other factors that may raise your chance are:
Symptoms TOPYou may not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have:
Diagnosis TOPThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. Preeclampsia is diagnosed if you have high blood pressure. You may also have:
Treatment TOPEarly treatment can help prevent eclampsia, which is seizures caused by severe pre-eclampsia. You may have: Delivery of the BabyThe only way to cure this condition is to deliver the baby. The decision to do so depends on many things, such as:
Labor may happen on its own or it may be started by your doctor. If there are life-threatening problems for either you or your baby, a cesarean section may be done. During labor, you may need medicine to control your blood pressure and prevent seizures. MedicationMild pre-eclampsia can often be managed with rest and medicine if the baby is close to term. Your doctor may advise medicines to:
Home Treatment TOPIf you live close to the hospital, your doctor may advise that you rest at home in a quiet setting. At home, you may need to:
Admission to the Hospital TOPIf pre-eclampsia is moderate or your home setting is not restful, the doctor may admit you to the hospital. This may mean:
Prevention TOPIf you have had pre-eclampsia in the past, ask your doctor whether you should take aspirin. It has been shown to prevent this health problem in women who are at risk. RESOURCES:The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:The Canadian Women's Health Network http://www.cwhn.ca The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) http://sogc.org References:
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Last reviewed May 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Beverly Siegal, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 8/9/2018 | |
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