Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) and Preeclampsia Essay

eclampsia in a pregnant woman can put her and her unborn child at risk. A risk

Another complication could be pre eclampsia, this is a medical condition that presents itself with high blood pressure, protein in urine and

Jane Johnson shows many symptoms and tests positive for tests that indicate that she has Preeclampsia. We know this because Jane’s symptoms, which she mentions in her letter, include new onset hypertension and swelling which also happen to be common symptoms of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can also cause women to rapidly fluctuate in weight and Jane states that, while also explaining how she is experiencing swelling in the ankles, that she has suddenly started gaining weight. Jane also claims that the source of her high blood pressure is anxiety, as she is inexperienced in motherhood, but coupled with her other worrying symptoms, and with the fact that preeclampsia is often found in women experiencing their first pregnancy provides many reasons to conduct urine and blood tests.

HELLP Syndrome, an acronym that stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets. HELLP Syndrome is a serious pregnancy complication that is life threatening. It is related to a health condition called preeclampsia, which is caused by pregnancy induced hypertension. According to the Preeclampsia Foundation (2010) worldwide, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders such as HELLP Syndrome, or eclampsia are a leading cause of maternal and infant death and illness. It is estimated that these

On 9/27/14 a 26 y/o, 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant woman was admitted to Bellevue Women’s Center in Niskayuna, NY, showing signs of severe preeclampsia accompanied with vaginal bleeding. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific condition which presents with hypertension, increased urine-protein concentration, and systemic inflammation. Preeclampsia can eventually lead to placental hypoxia and ischemia which can result in hypoxic injury to the tissue of the fetus in utero (1). In addition, preeclampsia is the precursor to maternal eclampsia. Eclampsia is a condition in which maternal seizures occur which are not caused by any underlying condition other than pregnancy. The most effective treatment in prevention of eclampsia caused by preeclampsia

When a woman is pregnant, any risk to herself or her baby is a significant problem. How many women suffer from Preeclampsia? Out of five to ten women. A woman who had a normal blood pressure before pregnancy can develop high blood pressure and excess proteins in her urine after the first twenty weeks of pregnancy. When this occurs a woman is told she has a disease named preeclampsia, which puts her baby and herself at risk. Preeclampsia grows unexpectedly after twenty weeks, with a high increase in blood pressure, excess proteins in her urine, extreme headaches, nausea, dizziness, sudden weight gain as sudden symptoms as sudden signs of sickness.

Preeclampsia casuses new onset hypertension and proteinuria which is a marker of kidney damage and can also cause damage to other organs like the brain and the liver.

Kate has a low blood pressure of 90/50. Decreased blood pressure is a normal finding during the early pregnancy. It is related to vasodilation caused by hormonal changes (Macdonald-Wallis, 2015). At the same time, the patient’s low blood pressure could indicate the volume loss related to vaginal bleeding; therefore, further investigation is required. Kate’s heart rate is increased up to 105 bpm. Increased heart rate could be a compensation for decreased cardiac output related to decreased stroke volume caused by bleeding. At the same time, according to the admission note, Kate “is frantic”; therefore, increased heart rate could be related to the patient’s agitation caused by uncertainty, pain, and fear to loose the baby. The patient’s increased respiratory rate of 22 may indicate the body’s attempt to compensate for poor tissue perfusion related to low hemoglobin level, and decreased volume caused by blood loss. Increased respiratory rate could also be related to the patient’s anxiety. Sharp lower abdominal pain along with vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy may indicate spontaneous abortion or ectopic pregnancy (Dogra et al., 2005). According to CTAS Implementation Guidelines, patients with moderate vaginal bleeding and low blood pressure in early pregnancy fall under Level II Emergent category and should be reassessed within 15

. It is more likely that preeclampsia is predominantly placental or predominantly maternal. Early-onset and late-onset pre-eclampsia have different attributes and are now generally accepted as subtypes of preeclampsia (von Dadelszen, Magee and Roberts, 2003). Although early-onset pre-eclampsia is considered primarily placental, there is also evidence for a much greater risk of later life maternal cardiovascular disease (Staff et al 2013). Hence, early-onset pre-eclampsia includes both placental and maternal components (Staff et al 2013).

Why does postpartum hemorrhage matter? Too much blood that is lost can make a mother’s blood pressure drop severely that can put her into shock and or even cause death if not treated right away. Some causes that

Preeclampsia is a disorder that can happen after 20 weeks of gestation and characterized by high blood pressure (BP≥140/90 mm Hg) and proteinuria. This syndrome occurs in 2–8% of pregnancies and lead to 25% of the perinatal morbidity and mortality all over the world. (1. Williams J. W. williams Obstetrics. chapter 40, section 11-1 2014. Reproductive Tract Abnormalities.) Factors that may increase the occurrence of preeclampsia include: obesity, diabetes, nulliparity, chronic kidney diseases, chronic hypertension before pregnancy, immune disorders, family history of preeclampsia, twin or multiple pregnancy and a personal history of preeclampsia. The activation of maternal inflammatory system due to abnormal placental development, which induces

Preeclampsia is the onset of hypertension which is defined as systolic blood pressure >140mmHg or diastolic blood pressure >90mmHg and proteinuria (proteins in the urine) >0.3g/day after the twentieth week of pregnancy in a usually normotensive woman. (Cline, Tintinalli's emergency medicine: just the facts, 2013). It is a multi-system disorder and is the most common complication of pregnancy, causing high morbidity and mortality in the mother and the fetus (Cline, Tintinalli's emergency medicine: just the facts, 2013). It usually occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy although it can occur earlier. Maternal risk factors include previous episodes of preeclampsia, diabetes or insulin resistance, chronic hypertension multiple gestation,

High blood pressure- Blood pressure readings 140/90 or higher in pregnant female measured in a sitting position.

Hypertension which is characteristic in preeclampsia has been linked to severe vasospasm as a result of marked increase in vascular reactivity as a result of excessive inflammation from the released cytokines, and endothelial dysfunction (Ref). Failure of normal vasodilatation in patients with preeclampsia result in lower intravascular volumes with less tolerance to blood loss associated with delivery, and generalised body oedema with sudden weight gain in pregnancy which are not evident in this patient (Ref).

Preeclampsia is a potentially deadly condition that typically occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy, in either the late 2nd or 3rd trimesters. It is most simply defined as a condition where a pregnant woman develops protein in their urine, due to organ damage (most often the kidneys) and high blood pressure during late pregnancy. Thankfully, the condition isn’t too common, as it presently effects in anywhere from 3 to 7% of all pregnancies, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Read to below to learn more about preeclampsia and how it can negatively impact a pregnancy: