Preeclampsia

Alternative names:

pregnancy-induced hypertension; toxemia

Symptoms:

• Edema (swelling of the hands and face present upon arising).
• Weight gain (unintentional):
  • In excess of 2 pounds per week.
  • Very suddenly over 1 to 2 days.
• Headaches.

Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal with pregnancy.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Decreased urine output.
• Nausea & vomiting.
• Facial swelling.
• High blood pressure.
• Agitation.
• Vision changes (flashing lights in the eyes).
• Abdominal pain.

Signs and tests:

• Documented weight gain.
• Nondependent edema.
• Elevated blood pressure, with an increase of 15 millimeters mercury (mmHg) or more diastolic (bottom number) and 30 mmHg or more systolic (top number) compared to baseline blood pressure or early second-trimester blood pressure.
• Proteinuria (protein noted in urine).
• Thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 100,000).
• Elevated liver function tests.

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• uric acid
• sodium, urine
• quantitative immunoglobulins (nephelometry)
• serum progesterone
• pregnanediol
• serum magnesium - test
• immunoelectrophoresis - serum
• fibrin degradation products
• estriol - urine
• estriol - serum
• amylase, urine
• amylase
• aldosterone