Pre-eclampsia: 10 FAQs and answers
In this article we will answer 10 FAQs about pre-eclampsia.
Question 1: What is pre-eclampsia?
Answer: Pre-eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and potential damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain.
Answer: Pre-eclampsia is a complication of pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and potential damage to organs such as the liver, kidneys and brain.
Question 2: What causes pre-eclampsia?
Answer: The exact cause of pre-eclampsia is unknown, but factors like placental abnormalities, immunological disorders, genetics and lifestyle factors may contribute to its development.
Question 3: What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
Answer: Most patients have no symptoms. But symptoms can include severe headaches, visual changes, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, ankle/facial swelling and rapid weight gain due to fluid retention.
Question 4: Who is at risk of developing pre-eclampsia?
Answer: Women with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension), previous pre-eclampsia, multiple pregnancy (twins etc), or pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes or chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk.
Question 5: Can pre-eclampsia be prevented?
Answer: Whilst there is no guaranteed prevention, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and managing existing medical conditions may reduce the risk.
Question 6: How is pre-eclampsia diagnosed?
Answer: Diagnosis involves blood pressure checks, urine tests for protein, blood tests to assess liver and kidney function – and potentially ultrasound and other tests of the baby.
Question 7: What are the potential complications of pre-eclampsia?
Answer: Complications include premature birth, low birth weight, placental abruption, and in severe cases, maternal and foetal mortality.
Question 8: How is pre-eclampsia treated?
Answer: Treatment options range from close monitoring, to induced labour (bringing delivery forward) or Caesarean section. Severe cases may require hospitalisation and medication to control blood pressure.
Question 9: Can pre-eclampsia affect future pregnancies?
Answer: Women who have had pre-eclampsia are at higher risk in subsequent pregnancies; especially if they experienced severe pre-eclampsia or had preterm births.
Question 10: What is the outlook for women with pre-eclampsia?
Answer: With proper management and care, most women with pre-eclampsia deliver healthy babies. However, postpartum monitoring is crucial due to potential long-term cardiovascular risks.
Summary
We have answered 10 FAQs about pre-eclampsia. We hope it has been helpful.
