Symptoms and Treatment of Preeclampsia

What is Preeclampsia? Preeclampsia is sometimes referred to as Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. It is high blood pressure induced by the pregnancy, AND protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The exact cause of Preeclampsia is not known, but it is suspected that it could be caused by diet, autoimmune disorders, or genetic causes. Some of the risk factors for Preeclampsia include age (being over 35), a past history of any of these: kidney disease, high blood pressure (Hypertension), or Diabetes, being of African American decent, first pregnancy and multiple pregnancies(twins, triplets, etc).

Symptoms

The symptoms of Preeclampsia include the following: sudden weight gain over 1 or 2 days, weight gain of more than 2 pounds per week, swelling of the hands or face, (also called edema), and headaches. Other possible symptoms can include: vision changes, agitation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and a decrease in urine output.

Tests and exam results

If Preeclampsia is suspected there are several tests that a doctor will order and he will examine the pregnant woman for some things as well. Some of the things that the doctor will examine the woman for are: increase in blood pressure (he will check her blood pressure and compare to past blood pressures on previous visits, also the doctor will check for swelling by gently pressing on different of the pregnant woman's limbs and hands and feet, and possibly other areas as well. The doctor will also compare the woman's weight gain to her past visits. The tests that the doctor will order will most likely include the following: a liver functions test, a platelet count (a blood test), check for protein in the urine (Proteinuria).

Treatment

Most of the time the pregnant woman is put in the hospital. Rarely, she may be allowed to stay at home and try to manage the condition at home. Treatments include: bed rest, blood pressure monitoring, and checking for protein in the urine, and increased swelling. Ideally, the condition can be managed until the 37th week of gestation, at which time the baby will have a good chance for survival outside the womb.

Cure

The only cure for Preeclampsia is delivery of the baby. If the woman is close enough to her due date, the baby will be delivered, but if it is not close enough, the condition will need to be managed until the baby has a good chance for survival.

Conditions which are considered an emergency and the fetus will need to be delivered if any of the following happen:

Abnormal liver function test.

Abdominal pain

Abnormal health of the fetus

Failure of the fetus to grow (per ultrasound)

Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)

Low platelet count

Severe/persistent headache

High blood pressure (higher than 100 on bottom number-diastolic) consistently for a period of >24 hours.

Creatinine level in blood increasing

Seizures or convulsions (Eclampsia)

HELLP syndrome (H=hemolysis-the breakdown of red blood cells)(EL=elevated liver enzymes)(LP=low platelet count)

Usually what is done about Preeclampsia depends on the gestation of the fetus, from 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy, delivery is the treatment of choice. If the woman is less than 24 weeks pregnant, the decision to induce labor, even with the small chances of the fetus survival, the reason for this is because the chances of the woman to be able to keep the fetus in the womb to the point of greater survival is not very good and increases the chances that the woman and or the fetus will not survive. Preeclampsia is very dangerous and the longer she is pregnant, the more dangerous it becomes to her health. If the woman is between 25 and 31 weeks of gestation, this is considered to be a 'gray area' and the woman will most likely be given steroids in order to speed up the maturity level of the baby's lungs, liver and kidneys and other organs. Speeding up the maturity level of the fetus's organs gives the baby a better chance of survival at a sooner time than if the woman was not given the steroids to speed up the process. In the United States, the death of the woman is very rare and the risks to the fetus seem to lessen as the gestational age of the fetus increases. The use of steroids have helped the chances for the fetus's survival very much in women who experience Preeclampsia.