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Pré-eclâmpsia

Last reviewed: 17 Jul 2025
Last updated: 06 Mar 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • >20 semanas de gestação
  • PA sistólica ≥140 mmHg e/ou PA diastólica ≥90 mmHg e previamente normotensa
  • cefaleia
  • dor na parte superior do abdome
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • movimentação fetal reduzida
  • restrição do crescimento fetal
  • edema
  • distúrbios visuais
  • convulsões
  • dispneia
  • oligúria
  • hiper-reflexia com clônus mantido
Full details

Risk factors

  • nuliparidade
  • pré-eclâmpsia em uma gestação anterior
  • história familiar de pré-eclâmpsia
  • índice de massa corporal (IMC) >30
  • idade materna >40 anos
  • gestações múltiplas
  • subfertilidade
  • hipertensão gestacional
  • diabetes preexistente
  • enxaqueca
  • síndrome do ovário policístico (SOPC)
  • doença autoimune
  • doença renal
  • doença cardiovascular preexistente e hipertensão crônica
  • intervalo de ≥10 anos desde a última gestação
  • residência em grandes altitudes
  • hipotireoidismo
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • urinálise
  • ultrassonografia fetal
  • velocimetria da artéria umbilical por Doppler
  • avaliação do líquido amniótico
  • cardiotocografia fetal
  • Hemograma completo
  • testes da função hepática
  • creatinina sérica
  • fator de crescimento placentário
Full details

Tests to consider

  • coagulograma
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

antes do parto

ONGOING

depois do parto

Contributors

Authors

James J. Walker, MD, FRCPS (Glas), FRCP (Edin), FRCOG
James J. Walker

Clinical Director

Maternity Investigation Team

Healthcare Services Investigation Branch

Hampshire

UK

Disclosures

JJW is Honorary President of the Baby Lifeline Training Company and Honorary Medical Director of Action on Pre-eclampsia. He lectures and teaches on pre-eclampsia and maternal safety both nationally and internationally, and is the author of national and local reports into safety investigations for the Healthcare Services Investigation Branch and national and local bodies as Clinical Director.

Lara Morley, MBCHB, BSc, PgCert, PhD, MRCOG, FHEA

NIHR-Clinical Lecturer and Subspecialty Trainee in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery

Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine

University of Leeds

Leeds

UK

Disclosures

LM declares that she has no competing interests.

Jacqueline Clarke, MBBS, PgG Cert, MRCOG, PG Cert

Consultant Obstetrician

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust

Leeds

UK

Disclosures

JC declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Thomas R. Easterling, MD

Professor

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

University of Washington

Seattle

WA

Disclosures

TRE declares that he has no competing interests.

Andrew Shennan, MBBS, MD FRCOG

Professor of Obstetrics

Maternal and Fetal Research Unit

St Thomas' Hospital

King's College London

London

UK

Disclosures

Not disclosed.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Practice bulletin no. 222: gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Jun 2020 [internet publication].Full text

Magee LA, Brown MA, Hall DR, et al. The 2021 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy classification, diagnosis & management recommendations for international practice. Pregnancy Hypertens. 2022 Mar;27:148-69. Abstract

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management. Apr 2023 [internet publication].Full text

Poon LC, Shennan A, Hyett JA, et al. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) initiative on pre-eclampsia: a pragmatic guide for first-trimester screening and prevention. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2019 May;145 Suppl 1:1-33.Full text  Abstract

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. PLGF-based testing to help diagnose suspected preterm pre-eclampsia. Jul 2022 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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