The pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal endothelial dysfunction, particularly in the kidney, liver and cerebral vascular beds, causes the key clinical features of hypertension and proteinuria as well as the potentially fatal complications of eclampsia: stroke, acute kidney injury and liver dysfunction. The placenta has a key role in moderating these systemic maternal responses and potentially also changes in fetal growth. As pre-eclampsia progresses, the dysfunctional placenta produces toxins that contribute to maternal endothelial dysfunction and disease development. These toxins, including the anti-angiogenic factor soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT1), can be utilized as biomarkers. Other pathophysiological contributions to placental dysfunction, including ischaemia, inflammation and senescence, as well as risk factors such as older maternal age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic hypertension or multifetal gestation, may help to explain differences in disease presentation. Chronic kidney disease is a risk factor for the development of pre-eclampsia during early pregnancy, and early pre-eclampsia may reflect undiagnosed underlying kidney disease in some patients. Furthermore, pre-eclampsia is a risk factor for kidney and cardiovascular disease in the mother and baby in later life. Understanding the pathways that contribute to pre-eclampsia facilitates the development of potential prevention strategies and treatments for early-presenting disease with severe features.