[Study on the heterogeneity of edema in severe preeclampsia]

The aim of this study was to analysis the clinical edema forms and explore the heterogeneity of edema in severe preeclampsia (PE) .

From February 2002 to February 2009, Peking University Third Hospital admitted with severe preeclampsia 228 cases who were enrolled in this study. The form is divided into no edema (A-type), pure interstitial edema (B-type), a simple cavity gap edema (C-type) and mixed interstitial edema that coexist with lacunar edema (D-type). Analysis and comparison of various types of edema in patients with different clinical manifestations of prenatal care models, laboratory parameters, the incidence of gestational age, complications and obstetric and perinatal outcomes, and analyze the relationship between different types of edema and albumins and the peak value of proteinuria.

Edema was seen in 86% (197/228) of all of cases. Compared the cases who have regular prenatal care with those who have irregular care, differences were statistically significant in edema type composition ratio (P < 0.01) and the incidence of serious complications (P < 0.01), and serum albumin levels (P < 0.01), but not in the peak value of proteinuria (P > 0.05); Compared early-onset PE and late-onset PE patients, differences were statistically significant in edema type composition ratio (P < 0.01) and peak value of proteinuria (P < 0.01), but not in serum albumin levels and the incidence of serious complications (P > 0.05). Comparison between the various types of edema, differences were statistically significant in serum albumin levels and peak value of proteinuria and incidence of serious complications and the gestational week at PE onset and the incidence of treatment preterm labor (P < 0.05).Occurrence of placental abruption, heart failure and HELLP syndrome had statistical significance in different types of edema(P < 0.05). The varying degrees of interstitial edema were correlated with serum albumin levels (r = -0.19, P < 0.05) and serious complication occurrence (r = -0.232, P < 0.05), but no correlation displayed with the peak value of urinary protein (P > 0.05).

The manifestations of edema were diverse in severe preeclampsia. The forms of edema were related to the PE onset of gestational age and serious complication involving in different organs.Strengthen prenatal care and early detection of edema may improve adverse obstetric outcomes.