[Can we prevent preeclampsia?]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading global cause of pregnancy complications, impacting maternal and fetal health.
• Early detection algorithms for first-trimester PE are emerging to enable timely preventive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze various literature-based preventive treatments for preeclampsia.
• To assess the efficacy of different interventions in reducing PE incidence and severity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on preeclampsia prevention.
• Analysis of treatment effectiveness based on dosage, timing, and patient characteristics.

Main Results:

• Aspirin (over 75mg, before 16 weeks) reduces PE risk by 10-24%, primarily preventing severe and preterm PE.
• Calcium supplementation (1g/day) is effective, especially in women with low baseline intake.
• Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and vitamin D show promise but require further investigation.
• Antioxidants, nitric oxide, progesterone, rest, and exercise were not found to reduce PE incidence.

Conclusions:

• Aspirin and calcium are established preventive measures for preeclampsia.
• Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of LMWH and vitamin D.
• Several other interventions lack evidence for PE prevention.