Pre-eclampsia, diagnosis and treatment

Pre-eclampsia is a multisystem disorder of pregnancy usually associated with raised blood pressure (BP) and proteinuria. The pathogenesis is not understood despite decades of research. Abnormal placentation related to immune mechanisms and maladaptation of the placenta may be the first step in the development of the disease. Although there are a number of risk factors and new innovatory tests (e.g., uterine artery Doppler) which can be used to predict pre-eclampsia, none fulfils standard diagnostic criteria. Of possible prophylactic value are antiplatelet agents, calcium supplementation and vitamins C and E. Prevention of eclampsia with magnesium sulfate is the subject of a current international randomised controlled trial (RCT), known as MAGPIE. Therapeutic strategies include avoidance of hypertensive injury and delivery of the baby and placenta. Further research into specific antihypertensive agents and conservative management strategies is required.