Diagnosis, risk factors and pathogenesis of preeclampsia

A pré-eclâmpsia é uma doença da gestação que pode determinar restrição no crescimento fetal, prematuridade e, em casos mais graves, morte da mãe e do feto. Caracteriza-se por hipertensão arterial materna, proteinúria significativa (? 0,3g/24h), edema, vaso-constrição do leito vascular materno e conseqüente aumento da resistência vascular. Muitos estudos discutem fatores de risco, patogê-nese e critérios para o diagnóstico da pré-eclampsia, porém as variações na forma de apresentação e de evolução clínica dessa doença dificultam o entendimento dos resultados obtidos, freqüentemente conflitantes. A padronização diagnóstica e as pesquisas de base genética e molecular podem trazer, em um futuro próximo, maior compreensão dessa patologia. Neste artigo apresentamos uma revisão da literatura, com destaque para a relação entre pré-eclâmpsia e resistência à insulina.Preeclampsia is an illness of the gestation that involves fetal growth restriction, prematurity and, in more severe cases, death of mother and fetus. It is characterized by maternal hypertension, significant proteinuria (? 0,3g/24 h), edema, vasoconstriction of maternal blood vessels and consequent increase in vascular resistance. Many studies discuss risk factors, pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria of preeclampsia; however, there are large variations in presentation and clinical course of this illness, which make interpretation of fre-quently conflicting results difficult. Diagnostic standardization and research of genetic and molecular bases can bring a better understand-ing of this pathology in a near future. In this paper, we present a review of the literature, stressing the relation between preeclampsia and insulin resistance

Comparison of serum selenium levels among hypertensive and normotensive pregnant women

Objective: To correlate serum selenium levels with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in a selected population and evaluate this mineral as a possible protective factor. Methods: This case–control study included 32 normotensive, 20 hypertensive (chronic and gestational hypertension), and 38 preeclamptic pregnant women. All patients were recruited from antenatal or obstetric admissions of a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Serum selenium was measured at the time of inclusion. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge after delivery. Results: Groups did not differ with regard to maternal age, ethnicity, educational attainment, parity, or smoking prevalence. Normotensive patients had lower body mass index and were included in the study earlier. These patients also had a higher prevalence of comorbidities other than hypertension. Continuous use of medication and a history of HDP in previous pregnancies were more common in preeclamptic patients. Serum selenium levels were not significantly different between groups, with an average of 56.4 ± 15.3 μg/L in the control group, 53.2 ± 15.2 μg/L in the hypertension group, and 53.3 ± 16.8 μg/L in the preeclampsia group (p = 0.67). Among patients with preeclampsia, 52.6% had the severe form. Serum selenium levels in these patients also did not differ significantly from those of controls (p = 0.77). Preeclampsia was associated with earlier termination of pregnancy and lower birth weight (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences across groups in other outcomes of interest. Conclusion: Serum selenium levels did not differ significantly between groups. Thus, we could not establish whether selenium is a protective factor against these conditions

Transposição de grandes vasos corrigida congenitamente e gestação: relato de caso

Este é um relato de caso com discussão dos desfechos materno-fetais de gestantes com transposição de grandes vasos congenitamente corrigida (TGVCC). Gestante com transposição de grandes artérias congenitamente corrigida TGACC, internada com 35 semanas de gestação por dispneia e cianose central, evoluindo para parto vaginal com fórcipe e recebendo alta com recém-nascido clinicamente estável. A mesma paciente é internada novamente após 1 ano, gestante e com as mesmas queixas, apresentando dor precordial no trabalho de parto. Foi indicada cesárea por desproporção cefalopélvica. Teve alta clinicamente estável. Os recém-nascidos não apresentaram malformações cardíacas. Em conclusão, gestantes portadoras de TGACC devem receber atenção multidisciplinar diferenciada devido à gestação de alto risco, tendo indicação de parto normal assistido e monitorado, visando diminuir a morbimortalidade materna

Transposição de Grandes Vasos Corrigida Congenitamente e Gestação: Relato de Caso

Introdution: Case report and discussion of maternal-fetal outcomes in pregnant patient with Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries (l-TGA). Case Report: A pregnant inpatient with l-TGA, 35 weeks of gestational age with dyspnea and cyanosis, have had a labor with forceps delivery, she’s get out clinically well stable. The same patient came back to the Hospital 1 year later, pregnant again, with the same complaints, now she presenting precordial pain in the labor and was indicated cesarean delivery by dystocia. She’s get out well stable. Both newborns do not have cardiac malformations. Conclusion: Pregnant patient suffering from l-TGA should receive multidisciplinary attention due to a high-risk pregnancy, presented indication of assisted and monitored vaginal labor, to reduce the maternal mortality. Key Words: Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries, High-risk pregnancy, prenatal care, delivery, cardiopathy in pregnancyEste é um relato de caso com discussão dos desfechos materno-fetais de gestantes com transposição de grandes vasos congenitamente corrigida (TGVCC). Gestante com transposição de grandes artérias congenitamente corrigida TGACC, internada com 35 semanas de gestação por dispneia e cianose central, evoluindo para parto vaginal com fórcipe e recebendo alta com recém-nascido clinicamente estável. A mesma paciente é internada novamente após 1 ano, gestante e com as mesmas queixas, apresentando dor precordial no trabalho de parto. Foi indicada cesárea por desproporção cefalopélvica. Teve alta clinicamente estável. Os recém-nascidos não apresentaram malformações cardíacas. Em conclusão, gestantes portadoras de TGACC devem receber atenção multidisciplinar diferenciada devido à gestação de alto risco, tendo indicação de parto normal assistido e monitorado, visando diminuir a morbimortalidade materna

Risk factors for cardiovascular disease ten years after preeclampsia

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Preeclampsia is a gestational disease that occurs mainly among nulliparous women after the 20th week of gestation, and frequently close to delivery. The effects of preeclampsia on women's blood pressure over the long term are still controversial. Patients with recurrent preeclampsia or preeclampsia in the early stages of pregnancy appear to present higher risk of hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women with preeclampsia 10 years earlier. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA). METHODS: Forty women with preeclampsia and 14 normotensive pregnant women followed up 10 or more years earlier at HCPA underwent clinical and laboratory examinations. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to correlate body mass index (BMI) and systolic and diastolic pressures. The risk of developing hypertension was measured using the chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The patients with preeclampsia 10 or more years earlier had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.047), BMI (P = 0.019) and abdominal circumference (P = 0.026). They presented positive correlations between BMI and diastolic blood pressure (0.341; P = 0.031) and between BMI and systolic blood pressure (0.407; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The patients with preeclampsia 10 or more years earlier had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure, BMI and abdominal circumference than did the control group. This emphasizes the importance of long-term follow-up assessment for cardiovascular risk factors among patients with preeclampsia

Diagnosis, risk factors and pathogenesis of preeclampsia

A pré-eclâmpsia é uma doença da gestação que pode determinar restrição no crescimento fetal, prematuridade e, em casos mais graves, morte da mãe e do feto. Caracteriza-se por hipertensão arterial materna, proteinúria significativa (? 0,3g/24h), edema, vaso-constrição do leito vascular materno e conseqüente aumento da resistência vascular. Muitos estudos discutem fatores de risco, patogê-nese e critérios para o diagnóstico da pré-eclampsia, porém as variações na forma de apresentação e de evolução clínica dessa doença dificultam o entendimento dos resultados obtidos, freqüentemente conflitantes. A padronização diagnóstica e as pesquisas de base genética e molecular podem trazer, em um futuro próximo, maior compreensão dessa patologia. Neste artigo apresentamos uma revisão da literatura, com destaque para a relação entre pré-eclâmpsia e resistência à insulina.Preeclampsia is an illness of the gestation that involves fetal growth restriction, prematurity and, in more severe cases, death of mother and fetus. It is characterized by maternal hypertension, significant proteinuria (? 0,3g/24 h), edema, vasoconstriction of maternal blood vessels and consequent increase in vascular resistance. Many studies discuss risk factors, pathogenesis and diagnostic criteria of preeclampsia; however, there are large variations in presentation and clinical course of this illness, which make interpretation of fre-quently conflicting results difficult. Diagnostic standardization and research of genetic and molecular bases can bring a better understand-ing of this pathology in a near future. In this paper, we present a review of the literature, stressing the relation between preeclampsia and insulin resistance