Case of the Month #9 - pre-eclampsia

Published 03/02/2022

What are the pathophysiological effects of pre-eclampsia?

  • Cardiovascular 
    • Increased Systemic Vascular Resistance, reduced plasma volume, increased Left Ventricular work, Reduced Cardiac Output  
  • Respiratory 
    • Pulmonary odema 
  • Renal 
    • Reduced Glomerular Filtration Rate, Reduced urate clearance  
  • CNS 
    • Loss of cerebral blood flow autoregulation, cerebral odema, leading to seizures 
  • Hepatic 
    • Raised transaminases, peri-portal necrosis, subcapsular swelling and rupture 
  • Haematological 
    • Thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, haemolysis  
  • Fetal 
    • Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction, premature delivery, placental abruption, intrauterine death