What are the signs of pre-eclampsia?

Answer 1

Pre-eclampsia is diagnosed when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure (two separate readings taken at least 6 hours apart of 140/90 or more) and 300 mg of protein in a 24-hour urine sample (proteinuria). A rise in baseline BP of 20 systolic or 15 diastolic, while not meeting the absolute criteria of 140/90 is still considered important to note but no longer diagnostic. Swelling, or edema, (especially in the hands and face) was originally considered an important sign for a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, but in current medical practice only hypertension and proteinuria are necessary for a diagnosis. However, unusual swelling, particularly of the hands, feet, or face, notable by leaving an indentation when pressed on, can be significant and should be reported to your health-care provider.

Pre-eclampsia is usually asymptomatic, hence its detection depends on signs or investigations. Nonetheless, one symptom is crucially important because it is so often misinterpreted. The epigastric pain, which reflects hepatic involvement and is typical of the HELLP syndrome, may easily be confused with heartburn, a very common problem of pregnancy. However, it is not burning in quality, does not spread upwards towards the throat, is associated with hepatic tenderness, may radiate through to the back, and is not relieved by giving antacids. It is often very severe, described by sufferers as the worst pain that they have ever experienced. Affected women are not uncommonly referred to general surgeons as suffering from an acute abdomen, for example acute cholecystitis.

In general, none of the signs of pre-eclampsia is specific; even convulsions in pregnancy are more likely to have causes other than eclampsia in modern practice. Diagnosis, therefore, depends on finding a coincidence of several pre-eclamptic features, the final proof being their regression after delivery.

Some women develop high blood pressure without the proteinuria (protein in urine); this is called Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) or gestational hypertension. Both pre-eclampsia and PIH are regarded as very serious conditions and require careful monitoring of mother and baby.

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Answer 2

Pregnancy induced hypertension, also called pre-eclampsia, is a very serious condition usually seen later in pregnancy, but may be seen as early as the second trimester in some women. It is thought to be caused by generalized vascular constriction, but the exact cause is not completely understood.

Symptoms include headaches, vision disturbances - especially blurry vision or scotomata (blind/black or dark spots in the visual field), swelling of the hands, feet and sometimes face, high blood pressure (blood pressure over 140/90 or a rise of greater than 20mmHg over pre-pregnancy baseline), and findings of high levels of protein in the urine.

This is a very serious condition and must be treated immediately to prevent the possible death of the mother and unborn child. Pre-eclampsia may evolve into eclampsia, which is all of the symptoms of pre-eclampsia with the addition of seizures and sometimes status epilepticus.

Treatment of pre-eclampsia is hospitalization, IV fluids, IV magnesium sulfate, blood pressure control, and delivery of the child as soon as possible.

Treatment of eclampsia is hospitalization, IV fluids, IV magnesium sulfate, seizure and blood pressure control and immediate delivery.

Answer 3

There are no symptoms of hypertension until major problems arise, but it means high blood pressure, so it is important to monitor blood pressure in case there is hypertension, because you don't want it to get bad enough for the symptoms to start showing up.

Answer 4

For those who have high blood pressure, or hypertension, there are usually no symptoms that cause them to go to the doctor. It has been called "The Silent Killer" because it provides no evidence that it exists. There are some conditions that can accompany HBP, but they usually appear when the condition is advanced and has been present for a long period of time. Here are some symptoms to look for.

• Severe headache
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heart beat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in the chest, neck or ears
• Nose bleeds