Preeclampsia - Current Management and Future Approach

Preeclampsia is one of the most serious pregnancy - specific medical conditions of increasing incidence. It remains a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Although maternal mortality is especially high in developing countries, preeclampsia and its complications are one of the top four causes of maternal deaths even in developed societies. Unfortunately, yet the only effective and definitive treatment of preeclampsia is delivery of the baby and placenta, and its time depends on the disease severity and gestational age. In this review, we report principles of management of preeclampsia in the light of current international recommendations. Suggested failure of the placental development and significant role of angiogenic factors and their receptors in etiology of preeclampsia give the possibility for their future use in diagnosis and risk assessment of the disease and open new chapter of possible solutions also in the field of treatment of this serious pregnancy complication. Introduction of an advanced form of therapy that could safely prolong the duration of pregnancy would be invaluable in the area of preeclampsia management and lowering perinatal complications, especially in women with early-onset severe preeclampsia.