Preeclampsia is a potentially deadly condition which occurs in about 10% of  pregnancies and is responsible for about 15% of premature births and 18% of all maternal deaths.  Preeclampsia causes dangerously high blood pressure, often accompanied by symptoms like swelling, weight gain, head aches and abdominal pain.  Unfortunately, some women suffer from rapidly advancing preeclampsia with no other symptoms.  If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to eclampsia, a condition characterized by maternal seizures that can result in brain damage and death.

Despite the fact that doctors have recognized the existence of eclampsia for over a thousand years, we still don’t know the cause, and the only effective treatment we have is delivering the baby, often extremely prematurely.  Now, new research may finally lead to a breakthrough in the way we deal with preeclampsia.

Researchers examined the placentas of 21 women with preeclampsia, and 25 women who had no signs of the disorder and found that the level of angiotensin II was doubled in the chorionic villi of women who were affected by preeclampsia.  Angiotensin II is a hormone that constricts blood vessels and causes blood pressure to rise.  The blood vessel constriction reduces blood and nutrient flow to the fetus, and may be the reason why preeclampsia causes intrauterine growth restriction.

Preeclampsia and the other related entities that result in high blood pressure in pregnancy (pregnancy induced hypertension, HELLP) have a high recurrence rate in subsequent pregnancies.  They are scary and dangerous conditions that stop many women from having more babies.  An effective treatment could  both save lives and help couples realize their dreams for completing their families.

For more information on preeclampsia visit the Preeclampsia Foundation website.   If you’ve had preeclampsia or another related condition, how did it impact your decision to have more children?

Reference:  L Anton, D Merrill, L Neves, K Stovall, P Gallagher, D Diz, C Moorefield, C Gruver, C Ferrario and K Brosnihan.  Activation of Local Chorionic Villi Angiotensin II Levels But Not Angiotensin (1-7) in Preeclampsia.  Hypertension published online Feb 7, 2008; DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.103861.

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