PREECLAMPSIA

Preeclampsia



Preeclampsia: A common, yet critical phenomenon

Introduction

The incidence of complications during pregnancy is commonplace these days. There are varieties of factors which pave way for complicated pregnancies. In this research, we tried to explore the concept of preeclampsia in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on Pathophysiology of preeclampsia and its overall effects on the health of a pregnant woman and the child to be born. This research would focus on the therapeutic approaches to dealing with preeclampsia and assess the complications associated with it.

If the problems are overlooked they can develop into serious complications which can even turn out to be fatal if proper treatment is not given. According to estimates, approximately 5 percent to 10 percent pregnancies experience complications because of hypertension. The Hypertension which has linkage with pregnancy is a heterogeneous complex of a variety of conditions which are pathophysiologic in nature. Chronic hypertension leads to a heightened BP (>140/90mmHg) twenty weeks prior to the gestation and continues even after six weeks of childbirth.

Hypertension leads to other disorders in 90 percent of cases, with secondary causes like that of disorders of the endocrine and connective tissues, vascular renal diseases and parenchymal, etc. Preeclampsia is quite a complex clinical syndrome qualified by edema and hypertension that come along after twenty weeks of gestation in antecedent normotensive females. The acute lengthy process of vasospastic occurs in preeclampsia which in turn leads to endothelial injury. As a result, the adherence to platelet and the deposition of fibrin becomes potential of affecting any organ in the body. This research would conduct an in-depth analysis of Pathophysiology in preeclampsia. Also, the therapeutic approaches to early delivery which serves to be the best option in order to overcome further complications will also be discussed (American Academy of Pediatrics and the, 2009).

Background of the Study

Preeclampsia is a very serious problem that occurs during pregnancy. In this complication, a woman's blood pressure rises and the amount of protein in the urine of the patient also rises after the 20th week of the gestation. Preeclampsia, which is also called toxaemia in pregnancy, is the most common cause of maternal deaths worldwide. Other symptoms of preeclampsia include excessive weight gain, headache, and pain in stomach as well as problems in vision. Although the underlying causes of preeclampsia have not been known, the condition takes place due to factors like genetics, diet related, autoimmune and vascular and swelling of face and hands.

The most common age for preeclampsia to occur is first pregnancy, multiple pregnancies or pregnancies occurring in old age. Patients who have a history of high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney problems are also prone to preeclampsia. According to the estimates of the World Health Organization, preeclampsia occurs in 3.2 % of live births every year, which means that there are more than 4 million cases of preeclampsia annually taking place across the globe. Since preeclampsia is one of the most common causes of maternal deaths, the death rate in the ...