Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that affects approximately 2-3% of pregnancies. This condition occurs before the 31st week of pregnancy in about one in 50 cases.

 

It can pose a very serious risk to both the mother and the child. It can progress to HELLP syndrome or eclampsia with associated life-threatening complications for the mother.
Preeclampsia is one of the leading causes of preterm birth. It is also associated with an added risk of the baby being born too small and too light because it has not received adequate nutrition in the womb. These children may have mental and physical development problems later as well as a higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Although the condition does not become outwardly apparent until 19 weeks of pregnancy, the root cause develops much earlier, in fact during the first trimester of pregnancy. The risk of pre-eclampsia should be identified as early as possible, to enable early initiation of preventive treatment.

 

Certain hormones in your blood are measured that indicate preeclampsia long before clinical problems begin.
A number of risk factors favor the onset of preeclampsia, for example if you or a family member (mother or sister, for example) have ever had preeclampsia or slow fetal growth.
Other risk factors are the woman's age (very young or older mothers), pre-existing high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes or obesity. First pregnancy, artificial insemination/egg donation, multiple pregnancy and high blood pressure can also increase the risk of developing pre-eclampsia.