Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are hypertensive emergencies unique to pregnancy and the postpartum period. Preeclampsia is described as a pregnant patient with elevated blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation. It may be associated with hypertension, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet (HELLP) syndrome. Eclampsia has a higher mortality, and is preeclampsia with the presence of seizures. Both conditions are potentially fatal to both the mother and the fetus, but can be acutely managed in the emergency setting with targeted blood pressure regulation and high doses of magnesium sulfate. Ultimately, urgent or emergent delivery of the fetus and placenta by an obstetrics specialist may be curative if the diagnosis is made in the antepartum stage.