Run Time:  6 minutes

Author: Samuel Killian M.D.

Educational Pearls:

• The mechanism of preeclampsia is not well understood, but it is thought to be a widespread malfunction of vascular endothelium and inflammation.
• Clinical features include hypertension – SBP >140 and DBP > 90, proteinuria, and potential pathologic edema.
• Preeclampsia typically occurs after 20 weeks gestation up to 3-6 week postpartum. Preeclampsia occurs in 2-6% of pregnancies, and Eclampsia occurs in 1 out of 200 cases of Preeclampsia.
• More severe symptoms include a blood pressure >160/110, renal dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and elevated LFTs with or without HELLP syndrome.
• A patient with a headache or focal neurologic deficits needs a CT scan because CVA and ICH are not uncommon.
• Studies show that people who develop Preeclampsia have 2-4 fold increase in the probability of developing chronic hypertension and heart disease.
• Some risk factors include: first pregnancy, higher BMI, family history, and African-American patients.

Link to Podcast: http://medicalminute.madewithopinion.com/preeclampsia-1/

References: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1476919-overview