Pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome Flashcards
What is pre-eclampsia
Pregnancy induced HPTN with e nd organ dysfunction - proteinuria
What is pregnancy induced HPTN or gestational HPTN
HPTN occuring after 20 weeks gestation
What is eclampsia
Seizures occur as a result of pre-eclampsia
Why does pre-eclampsia happen after 20 weeks
When spiral arteries of placenta form abnormally -> high vascualr resistnace
What is the triad of pre-eclampsua?
HPTN
Proteinuria
Oedema
What can pre-eclampsia lead to?
Maternal organ dmaage
Foetal growth restriction
Seizures
Early labour
Death
What forms chorionic villi?
Syncytiotrophoblast, the outermost layer of the blastocyst -> finger like projections into endometrium = chorionic villi
What contatin feotal blood vessles
Chorionic villi
What makes spiral arteries more fragile
Trophoblast invasion of the endometrium send signals - reduces vascular resistance of sprial arteries
When do lacunae form
20 weeks gestation
How are lacunae formed
Trophoblast signals vascular resistance spiral arteries to decrease, blood flow to them increases and they break down leaving pools of blood - lacunae. Maternal blood -> uterine arteries -> lacunae -> uterine veins
What causes pre-eclampsia
High vascular resistance in spiral arteries and poor perfusion of placenta -> oxidatice stress in placenta ->inflam chemicals -> systemic infalmmation and impaired endothelial function in blood vessels
High risk factors for pre-eclampsia
Pre-existing HPTN
Prev HPTN in pregnancy
Existing AI conditions (SLE)
Diabetes
CKD
Moderate risk factors
> 40
BMI >35
10 years since prev pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy
First pregnancy
FH of pre-eclampsia
When are women offered aspirin from 12 weeks gestation until birth
One high risk factor
More than one moderate risk factors
Symptoms of pre-eclampsia
Headache
Visual disturbance
Nausea and vomitting
Upper abdominal or epigastric pain - due to liver swelling
Oedema
Reduced urine output
Brisk reflexes
What is the level for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia
Systolic >140 mmHg
Diastolic >90 mmHg
PLUS any of
-Proteinuris
-Organ dysfunction
-Palcental dysfunction
Signs of organ dysfunction
Raised creatinine
Elevated liver enzymes
Seizures
Thrombocytopenia
Haemolytic anaemia
Placental dysfunction ifentification
Foetal grwoth restriciton
Abnormal doppler studies