Late onset postpartum preeclampsia 3 months after delivery

Am J Emerg Med. 2017 Oct;35(10):1582.e1-1582.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2017.07.024. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

Abstract

Preeclampsia is defined by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) as "the occurrence of new onset hypertension plus new-onset proteinuria" [1]. Up-to-Date elaborates a little further on this by defining preeclampsia as "the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria, or hypertension and end-organ dysfunction with or without proteinuria, after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive woman. It may also develop postpartum. Severe hypertension or signs/symptoms of end-organ injury represent the severe end of the disease spectrum" [2] In 2013, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists removed proteinuria as a key component in the diagnosis of preeclampsia. They also removed massive proteinuria (previously, 5 g/24 hours) and fetal growth restriction as possible features of severe disease. They found that were was a poor correlation in many outcomes between massive proteinuria and fetal growth restriction when managed similarly, with or without preeclampsia as a diagnosis. Oliguria was also removed as a characteristic of severe disease. [3] There have been several cases reported in the literature as well as by Obstetricians citing the incidence of preeclampsia occurring upwards of 6 to even 12 weeks postpartum. We hope to demonstrate what we believe to be a case of postpartum preeclampsia at 89 days postpartum.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Postpartum Period*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / diagnosis
  • Pre-Eclampsia / etiology*
  • Pre-Eclampsia / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult