- Related Topics:
- pregnancy
- toxemia of pregnancy
- severe preeclampsia
- mild preeclampsia
- HELLP syndrome
- On the Web:
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - Preeclampsia (Oct. 31, 2026)
preeclampsia and eclampsia
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What are preeclampsia and eclampsia?
Preeclampsia and eclampsia are pregnancy-induced hypertensive conditions. Preeclampsia, also known as gestational edema-proteinuria-hypertension (GEPH), is an acute toxic condition that arises during the second half of pregnancy or in the first week after delivery. It commonly affects young women during their first pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is characterized by swelling (edema), elevated blood pressure (hypertension), and protein in the urine (proteinuria). Common symptoms include headaches, visual disturbances, and stomach pain. Preeclampsia can be detected through blood pressure monitoring and weight gain assessment, even before symptoms appear.
Eclampsia is a more severe condition with convulsions that follows preeclampsia in about 5 percent of preeclamptic women and poses a serious threat to both mother and child. Eclamptic convulsions are treated with magnesium sulfate infusions.
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Who is at risk of developing preeclampsia and eclampsia?
Preeclampsia and eclampsia are hypertensive conditions that arise during pregnancy, typically in the second half of gestation or within the first week after delivery. Several factors can increase the risk of developing these conditions.
Women pregnant for the first time are more prone to preeclampsia. Younger or older maternal age (under 18 or over 35 years) can also elevate the risk. A family history of preeclampsia suggests a genetic component may increase the risk. Autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, are also linked to a higher risk. Medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, or chronic hypertension can predispose women to preeclampsia. Twin pregnancies also increase the risk.
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What are the main signs and symptoms of preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia, a hypertensive condition induced by pregnancy, is characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine (proteinuria). Swelling (edema), particularly in the hands and face, is also a sign.
Common symptoms include headaches, visual disturbances, and stomach pain. Preeclampsia can be detected through blood pressure monitoring and noting rapid weight gain, even before symptoms appear. If untreated, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a more severe condition characterized by seizures that can be fatal.
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How does preeclampsia affect a pregnant person and their baby?
Preeclampsia, marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, poses risks to both the pregnant individual and the fetus. For the pregnant person, severe preeclampsia can lead to organ disturbances, seizures, and, in rare cases, death. The fetus faces risks such as premature delivery and mortality due to the condition.
Symptoms of preeclampsia include headaches, visual disturbances, and stomach pain, but it can be detected early through blood pressure monitoring. Though there is no cure, management involves specialized diets and medication. In severe cases, delivery may be necessary. If preeclampsia progresses to eclampsia, convulsions can be treated with magnesium sulfate.
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What causes preeclampsia to become eclampsia?
Preeclampsia can evolve into eclampsia, a more severe condition, in approximately 5% of preeclamptic women, posing risks to both mother and child. While the exact causes of preeclampsia and eclampsia are not fully understood, the primary clinical sign of elevated blood pressure may be linked to malformed blood vessels that supply the placenta. A patient with preeclampsia is always in danger of rapidly developing eclampsia, which is distinguished by convulsions that may lead to coma.
Other factors such as genetic defects, autoimmune disorders, and diet may also play a role.
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How are preeclampsia and eclampsia treated or prevented?
Preeclampsia is often managed through specialized diets, medication, and reduced activity. A high-fiber diet can aid immune health, potentially decreasing preeclampsia risk or severity. Early delivery is an option for late-term preeclampsia. Eclampsia is usually avoided using similar methods. If convulsions occur, they are treated with magnesium sulfate infusions.
Approaches to preventing preeclampsia in high-risk women, such as dietary and sodium restrictions, have not been successful, but low-dose aspirin therapy and calcium supplementation are under investigation. Bed rest is advised for mild preeclampsia, but hospitalization is better for more serious symptoms. Delivery is considered the best option for severe preeclampsia when the fetus is more than 30 weeks\u2019 gestation. In the U.S., magnesium sulfate is the preferred drug for preventing and treating eclamptic convulsions.
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preeclampsia and eclampsia, hypertensive conditions that are induced by pregnancy. Preeclampsia, also called gestational edema-proteinuria-hypertension (GEPH), is an acute toxic condition arising during the second half of the gestation period or in the first week after delivery and generally occurs in young women during a first pregnancy. Eclampsia, a more severe condition with convulsions, follows preeclampsia in about 5 percent of preeclamptic women and poses a serious threat to both mother and child.
Symptoms
Preeclampsia is marked by elevated blood pressure (hypertension), protein in the urine (proteinuria), and swelling (edema) that is strikingly noticeable in the hands and face. Common symptoms of preeclampsia include headaches, visual disturbances, and stomach pain; however, it may be detected before the onset of symptoms by monitoring blood pressure and weight gain.
Suspected causes
The underlying causes of preeclampsia and eclampsia remain unclear. The primary clinical feature of elevated blood pressure may be attributed to malformed blood vessels feeding into the placenta from the uterus. Abnormal or damaged vessels can trigger the release of inflammatory substances and other molecules (e.g., angiotensin) that cause vessel inflammation or constriction. Other possible causes of preeclampsia and eclampsia include genetic defects, autoimmune disorders, and diet.
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For example, women affected by the autoimmune condition systemic lupus erythematosus and women who carry autoimmune substances known as antiphospholipid antibodies appear to be at increased risk of preeclampsia. The association of those autoimmune conditions with preeclampsia has been attributed to loss-of-function defects in genes such as MCP (or CD46; CD46 molecule, complement regulatory protein) and CFI (complement factor I), which have been identified in women affected by both autoimmune disease and preeclampsia. Those genes produce complement regulatory proteins that normally mediate the activities of complement, a system of proteins responsible for the breakdown of immune complexes and defense against infection. Because the regulatory proteins also play a role in protecting the developing fetus from immune attack by maternal complement, it is suspected that their loss of function leaves the placenta and its blood vessels susceptible to immune damage contributing to preeclampsia.
Another gene believed to be susceptible to defects that predispose some women to preeclampsia is catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which produces an enzyme. Scientists suspect that the enzyme and its major metabolite called 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) are required for normal formation and function of placental vasculature. Lack of the COMT enzyme and therefore 2-ME has been linked with persistent placental hypoxia—a decrease in oxygen in placental tissue that is considered a hallmark of preeclampsia. Hypoxia, which stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, is normal in the first trimester of pregnancy and ensures sufficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the rapidly growing fetus. By the third trimester the demand for new vessels drops, and new vessel formation is halted—a process controlled by 2-ME. Prolonged exposure to hypoxia endangers the health of the fetus and the mother and is the primary reason premature delivery may be necessary in preeclamptic pregnancies.
Treatment
Preeclampsia can often be controlled by special diets, medication, and limitation of activity. For example, a diet high in fibre, which is associated with the generation of beneficial metabolic products, can promote immune health in pregnant women, potentially reducing the risk or severity of preeclampsia. If preeclampsia occurs late in pregnancy, there is the option of early delivery. Eclampsia can usually be avoided by similar measures. If convulsions occur, they are treated with infusions of magnesium sulfate.