Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that can occurs during pregnancy and postpartum period and affects the mother and the fetus. Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the main cause of maternal and neonatal illness and death. In the Region, according to data from the World Health Organization, more than 20% of maternal deaths are caused by hypertensive problems.
The exact cause of preeclampsia likely involves several factors. Experts believe it begins in the placenta, new blood vessels develop and evolve to supply oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. In women with preeclampsia, these blood vessels don’t seem to develop or work properly which leads to irregular regulation of blood pressure in the mother.
The defining feature of preeclampsia is high blood pressure, proteinuria, or other signs of damage to the kidneys or other organs such as decreased levels of platelets in blood (thrombocytopenia), increased liver enzymes that indicate liver problems, severe headaches, shortness of breath, caused by fluid in the lungs, and pain in the upper belly, usually under the ribs on the right side.
The best clinical evidence for prevention of preeclampsia is the use of low-dose aspirin. primary care providers recommend taking an 81-milligram aspirin tablet daily after 12 weeks of pregnancy if there is one high-risk factor for preeclampsia or more than one moderate-risk factor.
