Research trajectory of the mechanism of preeclampsia: a scientometric perspective

This study aims to conduct a scientometric analysis on the research history and emerging trends of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. The goal is to provide guidance for future research and clinical practice.

The core collection database of Web of Science was searched for research literature on the mechanism of preeclampsia from January 1980 to March 2024. CiteSpace6. 1. R6, 5. 7. R5 (64-bit), and VOSviewer1.6.19 software were used for visual analysis, including networks of keywords, countries, authors, institutions, funds, and fields.

A total of 4989 documents were analyzed in this study. The number of published articles has shown a consistent increase from 1990 to 2022, indicating that this topic remains a significant area of research. The countries, institutions, authors, journals, and fields that contributed the most articles include the USA, University of Mississippi, Lamarca, Babbette, Placenta, and the field of OBSTETRICS and GYNECOLOGY. Keyword clustering and emergence analysis identified 7 clusters, while clustering and emergence analysis of cited documents identified 14 clusters. These analyses revealed that current research on the mechanism of preeclampsia primarily focuses on placental ischemia and hypoxia, inflammatory response and immune disorders, angiogenic factor imbalance, abnormal epigenetic modifications, and intestinal flora imbalance.

Research on the mechanisms of preeclampsia is rapidly advancing. Given the presence of multiple mechanisms and pathways, further collaborative research is essential to guide clinical treatment effectively and enhance maternal and child outcomes.