Preeclampsia
What is Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that typically develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. It causes high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organ systems, most often the liver and kidneys. Without proper monitoring and treatment, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby.
The condition occurs when the placenta, the organ that nourishes your baby during pregnancy, does not develop or function properly. This affects blood flow and triggers inflammation throughout your body. About 5 to 8 in every 100 pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia.
Early detection through regular prenatal care and blood testing is essential. Many women with preeclampsia feel fine at first, making routine screening vital. When caught early, most cases can be managed effectively to protect both mother and child.
Symptoms
- High blood pressure, typically 140/90 mmHg or higher
- Protein in urine, detected through laboratory testing
- Severe headaches that do not go away with usual remedies
- Vision changes including blurred vision, seeing spots, or light sensitivity
- Pain in the upper right abdomen, often under the ribs
- Nausea or vomiting, especially in the second half of pregnancy
- Decreased urine output or dark colored urine
- Shortness of breath caused by fluid in the lungs
- Sudden weight gain and swelling, particularly in the face and hands
Many women with early preeclampsia have no noticeable symptoms at all. This is why regular prenatal checkups and blood pressure monitoring are so important during pregnancy.
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Causes and risk factors
The exact cause of preeclampsia is not fully understood, but it begins with problems in the placenta. When the blood vessels that supply the placenta do not develop properly, they restrict blood flow. This triggers an inflammatory response that affects blood vessels throughout your body, leading to high blood pressure and organ stress. Genetic factors, immune system issues, and blood clotting disorders can all contribute to placental problems.
Several risk factors increase your chances of developing preeclampsia. First-time mothers face higher risk, as do women carrying twins or multiples. Being over age 35 or under age 20 increases risk. Having certain genetic mutations like Factor V Leiden, which affects blood clotting, raises your risk significantly. Other factors include obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, autoimmune conditions, and a family or personal history of preeclampsia. Low vitamin B2 levels have also been linked to increased preeclampsia risk.
How it's diagnosed
Preeclampsia is diagnosed through a combination of blood pressure monitoring and laboratory tests. Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure at each prenatal visit. If it measures 140/90 mmHg or higher on two occasions at least four hours apart, further testing is needed. Blood tests can reveal important markers of organ function and clotting factors.
Rite Aid offers testing for key biomarkers associated with preeclampsia risk and diagnosis. The Albumin/Creatinine Ratio detects protein in urine, a hallmark sign of kidney stress from preeclampsia. Factor V Leiden Mutation testing identifies a genetic clotting disorder that increases preeclampsia risk. Vitamin B2 testing can reveal deficiencies linked to higher risk. These tests can be added to your Rite Aid preventive health panel at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide.
Treatment options
- Close monitoring of blood pressure, urine protein, and fetal development throughout pregnancy
- Bed rest and reduced activity to help lower blood pressure and improve blood flow
- Increased prenatal visit frequency for more regular assessment of mother and baby
- Blood pressure medications that are safe during pregnancy when needed
- Corticosteroid injections to help develop baby's lungs if early delivery is likely
- Magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures in severe cases
- Hospitalization for close observation when preeclampsia is severe
- Early delivery, often between 37 and 39 weeks, to protect mother and baby
- Immediate delivery regardless of gestational age if life-threatening complications develop
- Postpartum monitoring, as preeclampsia can persist or develop after delivery
Need testing for Preeclampsia? Add it to your panel.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
There is no guaranteed way to prevent preeclampsia, but certain steps may reduce your risk. Low-dose aspirin starting in the first trimester can help if you have risk factors. Maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy, managing chronic conditions, and ensuring adequate vitamin intake may also help. Regular prenatal care allows early detection and management.
Most cases of preeclampsia resolve within 48 hours after delivery as blood pressure returns to normal. However, some women continue to have high blood pressure for several weeks after birth. In rare cases, preeclampsia can develop for the first time in the days after delivery, called postpartum preeclampsia. You will need continued monitoring for at least six weeks postpartum.
Not all cases require early delivery, but it depends on severity and timing. If preeclampsia develops near term and is mild, your doctor may monitor you closely until normal delivery time. Severe preeclampsia usually requires delivery within days to protect your health and your baby's. The only cure for preeclampsia is delivering the baby and placenta.
Having preeclampsia increases your risk in future pregnancies, but it is not guaranteed to happen again. About 1 in 6 women who had preeclampsia will develop it in a subsequent pregnancy. Your risk is higher if you had severe preeclampsia, developed it early in pregnancy, or have ongoing health conditions. Close monitoring during future pregnancies is essential.
Factor V Leiden is a genetic mutation that makes your blood clot more easily than normal. This can lead to blood clots in the small vessels of the placenta, reducing blood flow and oxygen to your baby. Poor placental function triggered by clotting problems is one mechanism that can lead to preeclampsia. Testing for this mutation helps identify women who need closer monitoring.
Research shows that lower vitamin B2 levels are associated with increased preeclampsia risk. Vitamin B2, also called riboflavin, supports healthy blood vessel function and cellular energy production. It may help protect against the oxidative stress and inflammation involved in preeclampsia. Ensuring adequate vitamin B2 intake during pregnancy may be beneficial for prevention.
Protein in urine during pregnancy is not always preeclampsia, but it is an important warning sign. The Albumin/Creatinine Ratio measures this protein spillage from stressed kidneys. New protein in urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy combined with high blood pressure typically indicates preeclampsia. However, other kidney conditions can also cause proteinuria, so your doctor will evaluate all symptoms together.
High blood pressure is a defining feature of preeclampsia, so the condition cannot be diagnosed without it. However, you can have organ damage symptoms like protein in urine, liver problems, or low platelets that would raise concern. These signs together might indicate HELLP syndrome, a related but distinct pregnancy complication that can occur with or without high blood pressure.
Preeclampsia is the condition of high blood pressure and organ damage during pregnancy. Eclampsia is the progression of preeclampsia to include seizures, which is a life-threatening emergency. About 1 in 200 women with preeclampsia develop eclampsia. Proper treatment with medications like magnesium sulfate prevents most cases of eclampsia.
Testing before pregnancy can identify risk factors that need management. Checking for Factor V Leiden mutation is valuable if you have a family history of blood clots or pregnancy complications. Assessing vitamin B2 levels and overall nutritional status helps you optimize health before conception. If you have chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, work with your doctor to stabilize them first.