Preeclampsia – causes, symptoms & therapy

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a form of pregnancy toxosis that only occurs in the second half of pregnancy. It is characterized by increased blood pressure, water retention ( oedema ) and increased excretion of proteins. About 20 percent of all pregnant women are affected by preeclampsia.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is present when blood pressure rises above 140/90 mmHg after the 20th week of pregnancy and more than 300 mg of protein is excreted in the urine within 24 hours. There is also edema on the face, hands and feet.

Preeclampsia is considered the precursor to eclampsia, which is a serious complication of pregnancy and can cause seizures, shortness of breath, and compromise the health of the fetus. It is therefore important to diagnose preeclampsia as early as possible.

causes

The causes of preeclampsia are not yet fully understood. It is suspected that the cause is in the placenta, which promotes inflammation of the mother’s blood vessels, which causes the increased blood pressure. Preeclampsia is an excessive reaction of the mother’s body to pregnancy.Another cause is suspected to be the maternal body’s failure to adapt to pregnancy. Pregnancy requires a larger volume of blood in the circulatory system, which the mother cannot produce sufficiently.

To compensate for the deficiency and keep the circulation stable, the vessels constrict, which causes increased blood pressure. The constricted vessels result in poorer blood circulation and a lack of oxygen in the tissue, which can result in damage to internal organs. In the case of kidney damage, there may be an increased excretion of proteins through the urine.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of preeclampsia:

Elevated blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg, reduced urine volume with increased urinary protein excretion, edema on the limbs and face are the first signs of preeclampsia. There are also other symptoms such as an increased weight gain of more than one kilogram per week, which is due to the increased water retention. Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion as well as nausea and vomiting usually occur as a result of high blood pressure.

The severe form of preeclampsia is also known as HELLP syndrome. It can manifest itself within a very short time and is manifested primarily by severe pain in the upper abdomen, nausea with vomiting and diarrhea.

If preeclampsia is not recognized and treated, it can lead to eclampsia with kidney failure , thrombosis , retinal damage or placental insufficiency. After birth, the symptoms of preemclampsia resolve within a few days in most cases.

Diagnose

If the corresponding symptoms are present, the diagnosis of preeclampsia is made by measuring blood pressure, laboratory testing of the urine for protein excretion and a blood test . When measuring blood pressure, a measurement alone is not very meaningful. A mobile measuring device that the pregnant woman wears on her body for 24 hours provides reliable information as to whether blood pressure values ​​are elevated. The amount of protein excreted in the urine and the hematocrit value, the number of platelets , uric acid and liver values ​​in the bloodcertainly. If the pregnant woman has pre-eclampsia, the heartbeat of the fetus and the function of the placenta are checked regularly using ultrasound, since pre-eclampsia can lead to slowed growth and an insufficient supply of oxygen to the foetus.

treatment and therapy

In milder forms, preeclampsia is treated on an outpatient basis with close monitoring of blood pressure and protein excretion. In the case of severe forms, inpatient admission is required.Since the causes of preeclampsia are not yet fully understood, treatment is symptomatic. Physical rest and a diet rich in protein and salt lower blood pressure. If high blood pressure persists, blood pressure-lowering medication ( beta blockers ) can also be given. In some cases, additional sedatives (Valium) help to lower blood pressure.

The protein excretion in the urine must also be constantly monitored. Due to the increased excretion, it is necessary to consume more protein with food. Treatment with magnesium sulfate and blood-thinning heparin is carried out to prevent seizures and thrombosis . If there are complications from preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome, it may be necessary to have the child prematurely by caesarean section . After the birth, the mother will continue to be monitored to rule out the occurrence of eclampsia.

prevention

The best prevention is regular pregnancy check-ups, which allow the first symptoms of preeclampsia to be identified and treated at an early stage. This is particularly important in the case of certain risk factors such as diabetes, chronic high blood pressure, renal insufficiency or a family history. Physical rest, rest, changing your diet and taking antihypertensive medication can alleviate the course and prevent the development of eclampsia. The additional intake of magnesium is recommended, since a magnesium deficiency during pregnancy seems to promote the development of preeclampsia.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *