Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia: Introduction

Any type of high blood pressure occuring during pregnancy is a type of "gestational hypertension". Preeclampsia is severe high blood pressure during pregnancy, and eclampsia is very severe pregnancy gestational hypertension leading to seizures.

Symptoms of Preeclampsia

• High blood pressure
• Fluid retention
• Swelling
• Swollen hands
• Swollen feet
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 13 symptoms of Preeclampsia

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Preeclampsia:

• Pregnancy -- Related Home Testing:
  • Home Pregnancy Tests
  • Home Early Pregnancy Tests
  • Home Ovulation Tests
  • Home Fertility Tests
  • Home Rhesus/RH Blood Type Tests
  • Home Fetal Tests
• Fertility-related Home Testing:
  • Home Ovulation Tests
  • Home Fertility Tests
• Male Fertility Tests
  • Home Sperm Tests
  • Sperm Count Tests
  • Sperm Motility Tests
• High Cholesterol: Home Testing:
  • Home Cholesterol Tests
  • Home Triglycerides Tests
  • Home Blood Pressure Tests
• High Blood Pressure: Home Testing
  • Home Blood Pressure Monitors
  • Home Heart Tests
• Heart Health: Home Testing:
  • Heart Rate Monitors
  • Irregular Heartbeat Detection
  • Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Fatigue: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Anemia Tests
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests
  • Home Calcium Deficiency Tests
  • Sleep Apnea Tests
  • Home HIV Tests
• Menopause: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Menopause Tests
  • Home FSH Hormone Tests
  • Home Osteoporosis Tests
• Vaginal Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Vaginal Infection Tests
  • Home Vaginal PH Tests
  • Home Yeast Infection Tests
  • Home Candida Kits
  • Home Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Tests
  • Home Bladder Tests
• Diet & Weight Loss: Home Testing:
  • Home Weight Testing
  • Home Body Fat Testing (BMI)
  • Home Body Fat Monitoring
  • Home Fitness Testing
• Breast Cancer: Related Home Tests:
  • Home Breast Cancer Tests
  • Home Breast Lump Detection
• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Health Tests
  • Home Eye Health Tests
• more tests...»

Preeclampsia: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Preeclampsia:

• Mother complications (see Pregnancy symptoms)
  • Eclampsia - seizures from maternal high blood pressure.
  • Convulsions
  • Kidney damage
  • Kidney failure
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Preeclampsia

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Preeclampsia

• Blood pressure test
• Urine protein test
• See also tests for hypertension
• more tests...»

Read more about tests for Preeclampsia

Wrongly Diagnosed with Preeclampsia?

• Misdiagnosis of Preeclampsia
• Failure to diagnose Preeclampsia
• Hidden causes of Preeclampsia (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Undiagnosed: Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia: Self Assessment Tools

• Heart Attack -- Self Assessment Tools
• Weight Management -- Self Assessment Tools
• Heart Disease -- Self Assessment Tools
• Fertility -- Self Assessment Tools
• more tools...»

Preeclampsia: Medical Mistakes

• Hypertension -- Health Mistakes
• Cholesterol -- Health Mistakes
• Obesity -- Health Mistakes
• Diabetes -- Health Mistakes
• Metabolic Syndrome -- Health Mistakes
• Women's Health Mistakes:
  • Womens Health -- Health Mistakes
  • Contraception -- Health Mistakes
  • Fertility -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Preeclampsia: Undiagnosed Conditions

Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:

• Chronic Major Diseases that are commonly Undiagnosed:
  • High Cholesterol -- Undiagnosed
  • Heart Disease -- Undiagnosed
  • Cancer -- Undiagnosed
  • Depression -- Undiagnosed
  • Type 2 Diabetes -- Undiagnosed
  • Type 1 Diabetes -- Undiagnosed
  • Hypertension -- Undiagnosed
  • Hemochromatosis -- Undiagnosed
  • Metabolic Syndrome -- Undiagnosed
• more undiagnosed conditions...»

Misdiagnosis and Preeclampsia

Metabolic syndrome often undiagnosed: Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, is an often overlooked medical condition that causes a cluster of chronic symptoms....read more »

Heart attacks can be undiagnosed: Although the most severe symptoms of heart attack are hard to miss, there are varying degrees of severity. It is...read more »

Heart attacks can be overdiagnosed: Although many people die from heart attacks, there are also many cases where people fear that they have a...read more »

Unnecessary hysterectomies due to undiagnosed bleeding disorder in women: The bleeding disorder called Von Willebrand's disease is quite...read more »

Rare heart condition often undiagnosed: The rare heart condition called long QT syndrome can lead to episodes of palpitations and rapid heartbeat. In rare cases, this undiagnosed condition...read more »

Heart attack can be over-diagnosed: Although heart attack is often undiagnosed, leading to fatality, it can also be over-diagnosed. People become concerned that a condition is a heart attack, whereas there are various less dangerous...read more »

Rare type of breast cancer without a lump: There is a less common form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. Its symptoms can be an inflammation of the breast...read more »

Blood pressure cuffs misdiagnose hypertension in children: One known misdiagnosis issue with hyperension, arises in relation to the simple equipment used to test blood pressure. The "cuff" around the arm to measure blood pressure can...read more »

Over-diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in obese patients: A diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension, is often a misdiagnosis in obese patients. Exertional dyspnea leads to a diagnostic...read more »

Obesity-related conditions undiagnosed in children: A variety of conditions are associated with obesity (see obesity), but these tend to be undiagnosed more...read more »

Hypertension misdiagnosis common in children: Hypertension is often misdiagnosed in adults (see misdiagnosis of hypertension), but its misdiagnosis is even more...read more »

Undiagnosed celiac disease in pregnancy harms fetus: The failure to diagnose the common but less known digestive disease celiac disease (see symptoms of celiac disease) is linked to adverse fetal outcomes. See misdiagnosis of...read more »

Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status can affect her level of fertility. Although obesity or overweight can in themselves reduce fertility, there are other...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia: Research Doctors & Specialists

Research related physicians and medical specialists:

• Cholesterol Specialists:
  • Clinical Lipidology (Cholesterol/Triglycerides)
  • Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
• Cardiac (Heart) Specialists:
  • Cardiology (Heart specialists)
  • Pediatric Cardiology (Child Heart Specialists)
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
• Pregnancy & Fertility Health Specialists:
  • Maternal & Fetal Medicine
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
• Baby & Newborn Health Specialists:
• Womens Health Specialists:
  • Gynecological Oncology
• Blood Health Specialists (Hematology):
  • Hematology (Blood Specialists)
  • Pediatric Hematology / Oncology (Child Cancer/Leukemia)
• more specialists...»

Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.

Hospitals & Clinics: Preeclampsia

Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Preeclampsia:

• Heart Health (Cardiac Care) -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• Womens Health -- Hospital Quality Ratings
• more hospital ratings...»

Hospital & Clinic quality ratings » »

Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Preeclampsia, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:

• 50 Best Hospitals Report
• Women's Health Best Hospitals
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence Study (2009)

Preeclampsia: Rare Types

Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:

• Chronic Major Diseases -- Rare Types:
  • High Cholesterol -- Rare Types
  • Heart Disease -- Rare Types
  • Cancer -- Rare Types
  • Depression -- Rare Types
  • Type 2 Diabetes -- Rare Types
  • Type 1 Diabetes -- Rare Types
  • Hypertension -- Rare Types
  • Hemochromatosis -- Rare Types
  • Metabolic Syndrome -- Rare Types
• more rare diseases...»

Causes of Preeclampsia

• Pregnancy
• more causes...»

Read more about causes of Preeclampsia

Read more about causes of Preeclampsia.

More information about causes of Preeclampsia:

• Preeclampsia as a complication caused by other conditions
• Preeclampsia as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Preeclampsia

Treatments for Preeclampsia

• Discuss anti-hypertension medications with your doctor - even if you were using them before pregnancy, they may not be appropriate for pregnant women.
• Avoid ACE inhibitors - possible fetal effects
• Avoid Angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists
• Bed rest - in mild cases
• Hospitalization
• more treatments...»

See full list of 10 treatments for Preeclampsia

Videos for Preeclampsia

Patient Surveys for Preeclampsia

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Preeclampsia
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Preeclampsia

Prognosis for Preeclampsia: Good with prompt treatment. Mother symptoms usually disappear within 6 weeks of delivery, without major long-term complications. Baby complications can be mostly avoided if the condition is controlled.

More about prognosis of Preeclampsia

Reseach about Preeclampsia

Visit our research pages for current research about Preeclampsia treatments.

Clinical Trials for Preeclampsia

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Preeclampsia include:

• Labetalol Versus MgSO4 for the Prevention of Eclampsia Trial - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - labetalol (seizure prevention),MgSO4 (seizure prevention)
• The Relaxation and Blood Pressure in Pregnancy (REBIP) Study - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Calcium for Pre-Eclampsia Prevention (CPEP) - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - calcium
• Oral Calcium in Pregnant Women With Hypertension - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - calcium
• Randomized Study of Nimodipine Versus Magnesium Sulfate in the Prevention of Eclamptic Seizures in Patients With Severe Preeclampsia - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - magnesium sulfate,nimodipine
• more trials...»

See full list of 72 Clinical Trials for Preeclampsia

Prevention of Preeclampsia

Prevention information for Preeclampsia has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Preeclampsia.

• Prevention before pregnancy
  • Control blood pressure
• Prevention during pregnancy
  • Regular blood pressure tests during pregnancy
  • Avoid alcohol
• more preventions...»

Read more about prevention of Preeclampsia

Statistics for Preeclampsia

• Medical statistics for Preeclampsia
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Preeclampsia
• Death and Mortality statistics for Preeclampsia
• Society statistics for Preeclampsia

Stories from Users Related to Preeclampsia

• Chorea?? Drug Induced??
• pre eclampsia / toxemia
• It's not pre-wedding jitters
• toxemia
• pregnancy induced neuralgia
• preeclampsia statistics
• Toxemia And The Stillborn
• What About These Pre-Built Grow Boxes?
• Hiking induced Vertigo

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  • Low Platelets, Low white blood count
  • Magnesium Deficiency
  • tingly, heavy arms
  • More user stories

User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Preeclampsia, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a condition that typically starts after the 20th week of pregnancy and is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine (as a result of kidney problems). Preeclampsia affects the placenta, and it can affect the mother's kidney, liver, and brain. When preeclampsia causes seizures, the condition is known as eclampsia--the second leading cause of maternal death in the U.S. Preeclampsia is also a leading cause of fetal complications, which include low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth. (Source: excerpt from High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: NHLBI)

Definitions of Preeclampsia:

Pregnancy induced hypertensive states, including EPH gestosis when edema and proteinuria accompany hypertension; other hypertensive disorders that develop during pregnancy or the puerperium are preeclampsia and eclampsia, either of which may be superimposed upon chronic hypertensive vascular or renal disease. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Abnormal state of pregnancy characterized by hypertension and fluid retention and albuminuria; can lead to eclampsia if untreated - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Preeclampsia is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Preeclampsia, or a subtype of Preeclampsia, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)