PREECLAMPSIA

Predisposing factors:
Aged 35 and above Precipitating Factors:
Family History of Low socio-economic
Hypertension and Diabetes status
Mellitus Multiparity
Increased Cardiac Output Traumatic Pregnancy
during Pregnancy
Increased Blood Volume
during Pregnancy

Systemic Vascular Spasms

(vasospasm)

See Line B
Increased Peripheral
Resistance

Decreased Cardiac
Output

Tissue Hypoxia

Multi-Organ Damage
See Line A

Decreased Blood Flow Kidneys

to the Gastrointestinal
Tract
Vasospasm in the Decreased Blood Flow
Kidneys to the Kidneys
Pancreas Liver Stomach, Large Intestine
Small Intestine If untreated
Decreased Blood Tissue Hypoxia Ischemia
Pancreatic Ischemia of Decreased Gastric Flow Resistance
Ischemia Hepatic Cells Decreased Gastric Emptying Time
Motility Increased Renin Decreased
Increased Back Production Responsiveness to Tissue
Hypoxia
Epigastric Damaged Liver Constipation Pressure
Pain Function Nausea
Activation of Renin- Decreased Erythropoeitin
Epigastric Pain Production
Glomerular Damage Angiotensin-
Vomiting of
Increased Liver Enzymes, Previously
Jaundice Ingested Food See next page Further Rise in Blood Anemia
Pressure
 Glomerular Damage
Line B

Increased Permeability Decreased Glomerular Increased Tubular Damage to Endothelial Cells of Arteries and
of Glomerular Filtration Rate Reabsorption of Sodium Action of Prostaglandin . Decreased
Membrane Prostaglandin and Increased Thromboxanes
Decreased Urine Output Fluid Retention
CHON in Urine and Creatinine
Sugar in Urine Clearance Decreased Responsiveness Increased Vasoconstriction and
Edema
Blood in Urine to BP changes is Lost Platelet Aggregation

Increased Hematocrit
Increased Initially Thrombocytosis
Line A Vasoconstricior Effects then Thrombocytopenia

Vasospasm in Decreased Bleeding

Renal Arteries Perfusion Increased Blood Increased Fibrin
Pressure Production

Vision Changes
Decreased maternal Placental Ischemia Formation of Fibrin Meshwork that
supply of nutrients and Occludes Blood Vessels
Blurring of Vision oxygen to fetus
Double Vision Early Placental
Degeneration HELLP
Fetal Compromise Rupture and Hemolysis
Syndrome
Retinal of RBC
Hemmorhage Fetal Death
Pre-term Labor Disseminated Anemia
Intravascualar
Blindness Coagulation
Further Rise in Blood
Pressure Excessive (paradoxical)
bleeding

If left untreated
Death