PREECLAMPSIA / ECLAMPSIA Flashcards
WHAT IS PREECLAMPSIA
New onset of HTN and proteinuria or end organ dysfunction after 20 weeks gestation in a previously normotensive patient
WHAT IS ECLAMPSIA
Preeclampsia has progressed and the patient now has seizures or coma
WHAT IS HELLP SYNDROME
Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets
May be part of severe preeclampsia
May occur without preeclampsia
PATHOGENESIS OF PREECLAMPSIA / ECLAMPSIA
- the underlying problem is endothelial dysfunction that leads to abnormalities such as:
⦁ HTN
⦁ activation of platelets (micro-thrombi)
⦁ CNS changes
⦁ edema
⦁ renal dysfunction resulting in proteinuria
⦁ hemolysis
⦁ hepatic ischemia
WHAT CAUSES THE ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION?
- mechanism not clearly understood
- many maternal, placental & fetal factors come into play
⦁ Under-perfusion of the placenta
⦁ Immunologic factors
⦁ Increased sensitivity to angiotensin II
⦁ Genetic
⦁ Inflammation
risk factors for preeclampsia
- first pregnancy
- multiple gestations (twins +)
- mothers > 35
- HTN
- DM
- Obesity
- family hx of preeclampsia
PREECLAMPSIA MAY LEAD TO
⦁ Maternal death (10-15% of maternal deaths) ⦁ Placental abruption (from HTN) ⦁ Acute kidney injury ⦁ Cerebral hemorrhage ⦁ Hepatic failure or rupture ⦁ Pulmonary edema ⦁ DIC ⦁ Eclampsia (Seizures)
essentials for the diagnosis of preeclampsia
HTN
proteinuria
- SBP > or = 140mmHg or DBP > or = 90mmHg on 2 occasions at least 4 hrs apart after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive pt
- If SBP is > or = 160 mmHg or DBP is > or = 110 mmHg, confirmation within minutes will suffice
AND
Proteinuria > or = 0.3g in a 24hr urine specimen, or protein:creatinine ratio > or = 0.3
can she still have preeclampsia if she only has new onset HTN, but no proteinuria?
YES!
if she also has:
⦁ Low platelets (< 100k)
⦁ Elevated serum creatinine (not getting through damaged kidneys) = > 1.1 or doubling of creatinine in the absence of other renal dz
⦁ Elevated Liver enzymes (at least 2x normal lvls)
⦁ Pulmonary Edema
⦁ Cerebral or Visual symptoms (ie Headache, visual changes)
***so basically this puts them in the category of severe preeclampsia (end organ damage) - so no longer need proteinuria to prove preeclampsia
when can preeclampsia - eclampsia occur?
Preeclampsia-Eclampsia can occur anytime after 20 weeks of gestation and up to 6 weeks postpartum
only cure of preeclampsia - eclampsia
Only cure is delivery of the fetus and placenta
____________ are most frequently affected with preeclampsia-eclampsia
Primiparas (first child)
Extremes of maternal age (< 20 or > 35)
Multiple gestation (twins, triplets, etc.)
PREECLAMPSIA / ECLAMPSIA IS ASSOCIATED WITH
Chronic HTN diabetes renal disease collagen vascular and autoimmune disorders Hydatidiform mole
OTHERS
- New paternity (new baby daddy)
- Previous preeclampsia or eclampsia or a family history
Symptoms not evident until ___________ but process begins as early as ________
3rd trimester
2nd trimester
cause of pre/eclampsia:
Unknown for sure
Imbalance in placental prostacyclin and thromboxane production (proteins released from placenta that act on maternal endothelial cells in vessels)
normally in balance (both increase in pregnancy)
- with Pre/eclampsia = have an imbalance = more Thromboxane than Prostacyclin
PROSTACYCLIN
potent vasodilator & inhibits platelet aggregation
THROMBOXANE
potent vasoconstrictor & stimulates platelet aggregation
with pre/eclampsia, have an imbalance between placental protein production (that maybe occurs with decreased placental perfusion?)
have more thromboxane than prostacyclin
In a normal pregnancy, Prostacycline levels = thromboxane levels
In preeclampsia/eclampsia, the Placenta produces _______________________
7x more thromboxane than prostacycline
The imbalance (much higher thromboxane) results in:
Vasoconstriction
Platelet aggregation
Reduced uteroplacental blood flow
only cure
delivery of fetus & placenta
Primary goal of management is
to allow pregnancy to progress as far as possible without jeopardizing maternal or fetal well-being
critical factors that affect delivery (3)
⦁ gestational age of fetus
⦁ maturity of fetal lungs
⦁ severity of maternal disease