8.15 Pre-eclampsia Flashcards
What features form the triad of pre-eclampsia?
- HTN (>140/>90)
- proteinuria (ie end organ dysfunction)
- oedema
What can untreated pre-eclampsia lead to?
Maternal organ damage FGR Seizures (eclampsia) Early labour and rarely death
At what gestation does pre-eclampsia occur?
after 20 weeks (when lacunae are formed)
What part of the blastocyst form chorionic vili? (finger like projections into the endometrium)
the syncytiotrophoblast
What does the invading syncytiotrophoblast cause in the endometrium?
Signals to the spiral arteries to decrease resistance and become for fragile
–> spiral arteries break down and form lacunae
What pathophysiological happens if the spiral arteries don’t form lacunae properly?
This can lead to pre-eclampsia:
–> high vacular resistance in the spiral arteries and poor perfusion of the placenta
–> causes oxidative stress in the placenta and release of inflammatory chemicals
–> leads to systemic inflammation and impaired endothelial function
What are some high-risk factors for pre-eclampsia?
- pre-existing HTN
- previous HTN in pregnancy
- autoimmune conditions eg SLE
- diabetes
- CKD
What are some moderate-risk factors for pre-eclampsia?
- older than 40
- BMI >35
- more than 10 years since previous pregnancy
- multiple pregnancy
- first pregnancy
- FHx pre-eclampsia
What can be given as pre-eclampsia prophylaxis?
aspirin
Based on risk factors when is a woman offered aspirin prophylaxis for pre-eclampsia?
- one high-risk factor
- more than one moderate-risk factor
- start at 12 weeks
What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
- headache
- visual disturbance or bluriness
- nausea and vomiting
- upper abdo or epigastric pain (liver swelling)
- oedema
- reduced urine
- brisk reflexes
What can be tested in a normal pregnancy to check there isn’t pre-eclampsia?
NICE 2019 say test PIGF between 20-30 weeks
PIGF = Placental Growth Factor
What are the NICE diagnostic criteria for pre-eclampsia?
- BP >140 or >90
- PLUS any one of:
- proteinuria (urine dipstick +)
- organ dysfunction
- placental dysfunction (FGR or doppler)
What signs of organ dysfunction can there be in pre-eclampsia?
- raised creatinine
- elevated liver enzymes
- seizures
- thrombocytopenia
- haemolytic anaemia
How can you quantify the proteinuria in pre-eclampsia?
- urine albumin:creatinine ratio above 30mg/mmol
- urine protein:creatinine ratio above 8mg/mmol