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Preeclampsia
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Preeclampsia and eclampsia are diagnosed after 20wks gestation and <4wk post-partum
- May occur sooner with gestational trophoblastic disease
- Defined as SBP>140 or DBP>90 in previously normotensive patient AND proteinuria >0.3gm in 24h or persistent proteinuria > 1+ on dipstick
- Only 10% of cases occur prior to 34wk
Risk Factors
- Past history of preeclampsia
- First pregnancy
- Family history of preeclampsia
- Preexisting medical conditions:
- Pregestational diabetes
- Blood pressure ≥130/80 mm Hg at the first prenatal visit
- Antiphospholipid antibodies
- Body mass index ≥26.1
- Chronic kidney disease
- Twin pregnancies
- Advanced maternal age
Clinical Features
- Edema
- Elevated BP
- With increasing severity pulmonary edema, visual changes, and altered mental status can develop
Differential Diagnosis
Postpartum Emergencies
- Amniotic fluid embolus
- Chorioamnionitis
- Eclampsia
- Postpartum endometritis
- Postpartum headache
- HELLP syndrome
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Mastitis
- Peripartum cardiomyopathy
- Preeclampsia
- Retained products of conception
- Uterine rupture
Hypertension
- Asymptomatic hypertension
- Hypertensive urgency
- Hypertensive emergency
- Preeclampsia/Eclampsia
- Autonomic dysreflexia
- Drug use or overdose (e.g stimulants or Synthroid)
- Tyramine reaction
- Pheochromocytoma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Anxiety
Evaluation
Work-Up
- CBC
- Thrombocytopenia suggests severe disease
- Chemistry
- Elevated creatinine suggests severe disease
- Baseline Mg level
- LFT
- AST/ALT elevation suggests severe disease
- LDH
- Elevation suggests microangiopathic hemolysis
- Uric acid level
- Often elevated in preeclampsia
- Urinalysis
- Proteinuria
ACOG Diagnostic Criteria
- In 2013, ACOG has decided to remove proteinuria from the definition of severity of preeclampsia but it is still part of the diagnosis[1]
- Diagnosis is either based on blood pressure AND proteinuria or the presence of Severe Symptoms
Blood Pressure
- Systolic ≥140 mmHg or diastolic ≥90 mmHg on 2 occasions at least 4 hours apart, after 20 weeks gestation with previously normal BPs
- Systolic ≥160 mmHg or diastolic ≥110 mmHg acutely requiring emergent blood pressure decreases
Proteinuria
- Proteinuria ≥300mg in a 24-hour urine collection
- Spot protein(mg/dL)/creatinine(mg/dL) ratio ≥0.3
- 1+ on urine dipstick (if no quantitative measurement is unavailable)
Severe Symptoms
In the absence of proteinuria, new onset hypertension with any severe features:
- Systolic BP ≥160 or diastolic BP ≥110, 2 occasions, 4 hours apart, while on bed rest (unless antihypertension meds were started before this time)
- Thrombocytopenia platelets <100,000/mL
- Elevated LFTS (2x normal concentration), severe persistent RUQ/epigastric pain unresponsive to medications and no alternative diagnosis
- Progressive renal insufficiency (creatinine >1.1mg/dL or doubling of creatinine concentration in absence of renal disease)
- Pulmonary edema
- New onset cerebral or visual disturbance
Management
BP Control
- For pregnant women with chronic hypertension, BP should be maintained between systolic 120-160mmHg and diastolic 80-105mmHg
- Either labetol or hydralazine can be used for initial control. Maximize the dose of each drug before adding on additional therapy.
Urgent BP Control
- Labetalol
- Option 1: Initial 10-20mgIV; then doses of 20-80mg IV q20-30min PRN to total of 300mg
- Option 2: Constant IV infusion of 1-2mg/min
- Hydralazine
- Option 1: 5mg IV or IM, then 5-10mg IV q20-40min PRN to total of 30mg
- Option 2: Constant infusion 0.5-10mg/hr
- Nifedipine
- Option 1: 10-20mg PO, repeat in 30 minutes PRN; then 10-20mg q 2-6 hours
Oral Antihypertension
These meds can be used safely to control hypertension of pregnancy
- Labetalol
- Option 1: 200-2400mg/d in two to three divided doses
- Nifedipine ER
- Option 1: 30-120mg/d
- Methydopa
- Option 1: 0.5-3 g/d in two to three divided doses
- Thiazide diuretics - used as second line agent
- ACE Inhibitor/ARB - CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY DUE TO TERATOGENICITY
Delivery Timing
- Pre Eclampsia without severe features, delivery at 37 weeks
- Pre Eclampsia with severe features
- Before fetal viability, delivery after maternal stabilization, expectant management is not recommended
- Viable fetus at 33 6/7 weeks or less may delay delivery for 48 hours of corticosteroids if maternal and fetal conditions remain stable with any of the following:
- PPROM
- Labor
- Low platelet count <100,000mL
- Persistent abnormal LFT(2x normal concentration)
- IUGR<5%
- Severe oligohydramnios (AFI<5cm)
- Reversed end diastolic flow on umbilical artery Doppler studies
- New onset renal dysfunction or increasing renal dysfunction.
- Do not delay delivery after initial maternal stabilization regardless of gestational age for women with PreE with severe features complicated by any of the following:
- Uncontrollable severe hypertension
- Eclampsia
- Pulmonary edema
- Abruption placentae
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Evidence of nonreassuring fetal status
- Intrapartum fetal demise
Prevention
- The USPSTF recommends the use of low-dose aspirin (81mg/d) as preventive medication after 12 weeks of gestation in women who are at high risk for preeclampsia. ( B recommendation)[2]
Per ACOG Task Force: For women with prior preeclampsia that led to delivery before 34 weeks of gestation or occurring in more than one pregnancy, offer daily low-dose aspirin (81mg or less) late in the first trimester.
Seizure Prophylaxis
- Magneisum
- Option 1: Load 4-6 grams 10% magnesium sulfate in 100ml solution IV over 20 minutes, then continuous infusion of Magnesium sulfate maintenance 1-2 grams/hour
- Option 2: Magnesium sulfate 10 grams of 50% solution IM (5 grams in each buttock) if no IV accessMagnesium sulfate on infusion pump
Contraindications: pulmonary edema, renal failure, myasthenia gravis
Observe for loss of reflexes, respiratory depression
Disposition
- Consult with OB/GYN regarding discharge versus admission
- Some cases of mild preeclampsia may be candidates for outpatient therapy
- Close follow up and return precautions is key
- Repeat lab tests 1-2x per week (platelet count, creatinine, AST)
- Some cases of mild preeclampsia may be candidates for outpatient therapy
See Also
External Links
LITFL: Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia
References
- ↑ Hypertension in pregnancy: Report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 122:1122.
- ↑ http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1902275