Question

A healthy 28 y.o.woman is admitted to L&D at 28 weeks gestation. She has symptoms of severe headaches and blurred vision. She has a BP of 190/115mmHg with protein found in her urine. On an earlier doctor visit her BP was 155/105. She has a normal hematocrit and platelets.Her 24-hour urine analysis shows 2.1 g of protein.

What is the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia?

What are adverse outcomes for the mother and the neonate in severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy?

Answer 1

Although exact pathophysiology is not known. Following paragraph here is a brief description of preeclampsia pathophysiology.

A combination of genetic factors, risk factors, and immunological factors leads to abnormal placenta development. This along with an increase in placental load lead to decreased blood flow to the fetus. This triggers an inflammatory response in the endothelial lining of maternal blood vessels. And the patient eventually develops vasoconstriction (hypertension, eclampsia) and increased vascular permeability ( proteinuria and edema).

Adverse Outcomes of mother and neonate in severe hypertensive disorders

Neonatal

Neonatal mortality, Respiratory distress, Intrauterine Growth Retardation, Low birth Weight, Neonatal thrombocytopenia, Neutropenia,

Maternal

Perinatal mortality and morbidity