Preeclampsia. Part I: clinical, pathological and physiological characteristics.

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder usually characterised by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. Preeclampsia is a systemic disease with multiorgan involvement and is associated to a high risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. To date, its pathogenesis is not completely understood, but placental hypoxia or hypoxia/reoxygenation may be the basic condition leading to systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which in turn induce all the clinical manifestations of the disorder. Delivery is the only curative treatment. In the management of preeclampsia two kinds of risks need to be considered: the maternal risks, due to continued pregnancy, and the fetal risks, associated with induced preterm delivery.