9- Medical problems in pregnancy (new problems in pregnancy) Flashcards
define hypertension
BP >140/90 mmHg on 2 occasions, more than 4 hours apart, or a single reading of diastolic BP >11o mmHg
hypertensive disorders classification
- Gestational hypertension
- Pre-eclampsia
- Chronic hypertension
- Pre-eclampsia with superimposed on chronic hypertension
- Eclampsia
gestational hypertension vs pre-eclampsia
Gestational/Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)
- A diagnosis of new onset raised blood pressure after 20/40 gestation
- No proteinuria and normal blood values
- 25% go on to pre eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia
- Multi-system disorder
- Raised blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) and proteinuria (>300 mg per 24 hours) after 20/40 gestation
Pre-eclampsia
- new high blood pressure (hypertension) in pregnancy
- with end-organ dysfunction, notably with proteinuria (protein in the urine)
when does pre-eclampsia occur
after 20 weeks gestation
- whent he sprial arterias of the palcenta form (leads to high vascular resistance int hese vessels)
implication of pre-eclampsia
significant cause of maternala dn fetal morbidity and mortality
- maternal organ damage
- fetal growth restriction
- seizures
- early labour
- death
pre-eclampsia is a triad of
Hypertension
Proteinuria
Oedema
define chronic hypertension in relation to pregnancy
is high blood pressure that exists before 20 weeks gestation and is longstanding. This is not caused by dysfunction in the placenta and is not classed as pre-eclampsia.
define gestational hypertension
is hypertension occurring after 20 weeks gestation, without proteinuria.
pre-eclampsia vs eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is pregnancy-induced hypertension associated with organ damage, notably proteinuria.
Eclampsia is when seizures occur as a result of pre-eclampsia.
pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia
1) When the blastocyst implants on the endometrium, the outermost layer, called the syncytiotrophoblast, grows into the endometrium. It forms finger-like projections called chorionic villi. The chorionic villi contain fetal blood vessels.
2) Trophoblast invasion of the endometrium sends signals to the spiral arteries in that area of the endometrium, reducing their vascular resistance and making them more fragile. The blood flow to these arteries increases, and eventually they break down, leaving pools of blood called lacunae (lakes). Maternal blood flows from the uterine arteries, into these lacunae, and back out through the uterine veins. Lacunae form at around 20 weeks gestation.
3) When the process of forming lacunae is inadequate, the woman can develop pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is caused by high vascular resistance in the spiral arteries and poor perfusion of the placenta. This causes oxidative stress in the placenta, and the release of inflammatory chemicals into the systemic circulation, leading to systemic inflammation and impaired endothelial function in the blood vessels.
high- risk risk factors
- Pre-existing hypertension
- Previous hypertension in pregnancy
- Existing autoimmune conditions (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus)
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
moderate-risk risk factors
- Older than 40
- BMI > 35
- More than 10 years since previous pregnancy
- Multiple pregnancy
- First pregnancy
- Family history of pre-eclampsia
*
management of patients with high risk factors
if a patient has one high risk factor - offer aspirin prophylaxis
- offered from 12 weeks gestation until birth
management of patients with moderate risk factors
if more than one moderate risk factors- give aspirin from 12 weeks gestation
pre-eclampsia presentation
Pre-eclampsia has symptoms of the complications:
- Headache
- Visual disturbance or blurriness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Upper abdominal or epigastric pain (this is due to liver swelling)
- Oedema
- Reduced urine output
- Brisk reflexes
diagnosis of pre-eclampsia
- Systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg
- Diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg
PLUS any of:
- Proteinuria (1+ or more on urine dipstick)
- Organ dysfunction (e.g. raised creatinine, elevated liver enzymes, seizures, thrombocytopenia or haemolytic anaemia)
- Placental dysfunction (e.g. fetal growth restriction or abnormal Doppler studies)
how can proteinuria be quantified for pre-eclampsia
Urine protein:creatinine ratio (above 30mg/mmol is significant)
Urine albumin:creatinine ratio (above 8mg/mmol is significant)
which factor can be used to test for pre-ec in women suspected of having pre-ec
Placental growth factor is a protein released by the placenta that functions to stimulate the development of new blood vessels.
- In pre-eclampsia, the levels of PlGF are low.
- NICE recommends using PlGF between 20 and 35 weeks gestation to rule-out pre-eclampsia.
monitoring for pre-eclampsia
All pregnant women are routinely monitored at every antenatal appointment for evidence of pre-eclampsia, with:
- Blood pressure
- Symptoms
- Urine dipstick for proteinuria
investigations for pre-eclampia
Maternal:
- Platelet count (FBC)
- Renal function (U&E eGFR)
- Liver function (LFT)
- DIC (coagulation profile in severe cases or thrombocytopenia)
- Level of proteinuria (PCR, 24 hour collection)
Fetal:
- Growth velocity (fetal growth ultrasound)
- Fetal wellbeing (CTG, amniotic fluid volume, fetal Doppler)
management of gestational hypertension (without proteinuria)
- Treating to aim for a blood pressure below 135/85 mmHg
- Admission for women with a blood pressure above 160/110 mmHg
- Urine dipstick testing at least weekly
- Monitoring of blood tests weekly (full blood count, liver enzymes and renal profile)
- Monitoring fetal growth by serial growth scans
- PlGF testing on one occasion
which scoring system is used to determine whether a women with pre-eclampsia should be admited
fullPIERS or PREP‑S
pre-eclampsia complications: maternal
medical management of pre-eclampsia
- Labetolol is first-line as an antihypertensive
- Nifedipine (modified-release) is commonly used second-line
- Methyldopa is used third-line (needs to be stopped within two days of birth)
- Intravenous hydralazine may be used as an antihypertensive in critical care in severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia
- IV magnesium sulphate is given during labour and in the 24 hours afterwards to prevent seizures
- Fluid restriction is used during labour in severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, to avoid fluid overload
pre-eclampsia complications: fetus
- stillbirth
- small for gestational age
- prematurity
if BP cannot be controlled or complications occur- what should occur
- Planned early birth may be necessary if the blood pressure cannot be controlled or complications occur.
- Corticosteroids should be given to women having a premature birth to help mature the fetal lungs.
delivery in a women with pre-eclampsia
Blood pressure is monitored closely after delivery. Blood pressure will return to normal over time once the placenta is removed.
For medical treatment, NICE recommend after delivery switching to one or a combination of:
- Enalapril (first-line)
- Nifedipine or amlodipine (first-line in black African or Caribbean patients)
- Labetolol or atenolol (third-line)
what is eclampsia and how is it managed
Seizuresoccurring in pregnancy or within 10 days of delivery and with at least two of the following features documented within 24 hours of the seizure:
- Hypertension
- Proteinuriaone “plus” or at least 0.3 g/24 h
- Thrombocytopenialess than 100 000/μl
- Raised transaminases
Management
- IV Access
- Bolus of 4g Magnesium Sulphate
- Continuous infusion of Magnesium Sulphate
- Control hypertension
- If antenatal- plan for delivery by most appropriate route
- Fluid balance
- HDU care
HELLP syndrome
HELLP syndrome is a combination of features that occurs as a complication of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. It is an acronym for the key characteristics:
- Haemolysis
- Elevated Liver enzymes
- Low Platelets
Gestational diabetes
- refers to diabetes triggered by pregnancy.
- caused by reduced insulin sensitivity during pregnancy, and resolves after birth.
complications of gestational diabetes
Fetal complications :
- congenital abnormality
- miscarriage
- Macrosomia, ↑ neonatal morbidity, hypoglycaemia and shoulder dystocia
- Still birth
- Risk of baby developing obesity and/or diabetes later in life
Maternal complications :
- DKA, Hypertension
- Increased monitoring and interventions during pregnancy and labour
- Obstetric intervention & Operative delivery
- Likelihood of birth trauma, IOL and CS
who should be screened for GDM
1) Anyone with risk factors
2) features suggestuve of gestational diabetes
RF for GDM
- Previous gestational diabetes
- Previous macrosomic baby (≥ 4.5kg)
- BMI > 30 kg/m^2
- Ethnic origin (black Caribbean, Middle Eastern and South Asian)
- Family history of diabetes (first-degree relative)
screening test for GDM
oral glucose tolerance test at 24 – 28 weeks gestation.
Women with previous gestational diabetes also have an OGTT soon after the booking clinic.*
features suggestive of gestational diabetes
- Large for dates fetus
- Polyhydramnios (increased amniotic fluid)
- Glucose on urine dipstick