[Late prognosis after preeclampsia]

Abstract

Preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are severe complications of pregnancy associated with a high morbidity and mortality for both mother and foetus. The issue of prognosis with regards to risk of relapse is therefore of upmost importance for both the patients and doctors managing their subsequent pregnancies. The overall risk of relapse is estimated to be less than 10%. The risk is especially increased in case of early onset, before the 28(th) week of amenorrhea. In such patients, an underlying renal disease, essential hypertension or secondary hypertension might be identified. A renal consultation must ensure the complete resolution of the hypertension and proteinuria, otherwise investigations need to be carried out looking for an underlying renal or vascular disease affecting the renal parenchyma or outflow. Screening for a hereditary thrombophilia is performed in the immediate post-partum period following and early onset PE, especially if associated with an IUGR, fetal death, or in an early and severe relapse. A renal biopsy is only rarely considered: it is either performed within the first post-partum days whenever a systemic disease flare-up is suspected (i.e. SLE), or late if the proteinuria failed to settle beyond 6 months post-part. Severe PE is a marker of a vascular disease of short duration, but must be considered a risk factor for later atherosclerosis with cardiovascular complications, justifying long term cardiovascular, renal and metabolic follow-up.