Preeclampsia Essay

Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and eclampsia are part of a spectrum of hypertensive disorders specific to pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity worldwide. The root cause of hypertensive disorders specific to pregnancy is the placenta. As the cytotrophoblastic tissue of the placenta fails to widen the maternal spiral arteries – this is called decreased spiral remodeling. This causes decreased tissue perfusion (ischemia) in the placenta, called defective placentation. Ischemia in the placenta is thought to stimulate release of a substance that is toxic to endothelial cells, leading to endothelial cell dysfunction. Because endothelial cells line all the blood vessels, this leads …show more content…
HELLP syndrome occurs when endothelial damage is severe enough that it exposes the basement membrane, which causes platelet adherence and fibrin deposition. This causes platelet levels to decrease, and RBCs are damaged while moving through the narrowed vessels. Endothelial damage and fibrin deposits in the liver can lead to impaired liver function and hemorrhagic necrosis. Symptoms of hemorrhagic necrosis include upper right quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting. Hemorrhagic necrosis can cause elevate liver enzymes. (High risk pregnancy). A diagnosis of HELLP syndrome is associated with an increased risk of maternal …show more content…
These patients have a significantly increased risk of developing preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies, and even if they maintain normal blood pressure readings throughout their pregnancy, they are at increased risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age infant, and perinatal death.
Development of eclampsia puts the patient at increased risk of developing epilepsy and cognitive impairment later in