CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2023; 45(01): 049-054
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1763495
Febrasgo Position Statement

Prediction and prevention of preeclampsia

Number 1 – January 2023
1   Universidade Federal Fluminese, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil
,
2   Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia
,
3   Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
4   Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
,
5   Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
,
6   Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
,
7   Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
,
8   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
,
9   Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
,
10   Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
,
11   Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
,
12   Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brazil
,
13   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
,
14   Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
,
15   Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Keypoints

  • Preeclampsia (PE) is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide, accounts for 10% to 15% of direct maternal deaths, and 99% of these deaths are in low-income countries.

  • Preeclampsia is defined as systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg on at least two occasions, measured four hours apart in previously normotensive women, and is accompanied by one or more of the following new-onset conditions after 20 weeks' gestation: (1) proteinuria, (2) evidence of other maternal organ dysfunction, or (3) uteroplacental dysfunction.

  • Preeclampsia is classified into: (1) early PE (delivery < 34+0 weeks' gestation); (2) preterm PE (delivery < 37+0 weeks' gestation); (3) late-onset PE (delivery ≥ 34+0 weeks' gestation); (4) term PE (delivery ≥ 37+0 weeks' gestation).

  • In Brazil, the incidence of PE varies from 1.5% to 7%; of preterm PE is 2% and of eclampsia is 0.6%. However, these statistics are likely to be underestimated and vary according to the region studied.

  • Screening strategies for PE vary depending on the parameters used, pre-test risk, outcome stratification, and the gestational age at which screening is performed. However, there is consensus in the literature that no single-parameter screening test has been shown to adjust the preexisting maternal risk for PE with sufficient specificity and sensitivity for clinical use.

The National Specialized Commission on Ultrasonography in GO of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (Febrasgo) endorses this document. The production of content is based on scientific evidence on the proposed theme and the results presented contribute to clinical practice.




Publication History

Article published online:
06 March 2023

© 2023. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil

 
  • References

  • 1 World Health Organization. WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Geneva: WHO; 2011
  • 2 Abalos E, Cuesta C, Grosso AL, Chou D, Say L. Global and regional estimates of preeclampsia and eclampsia: a systematic review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013; 170 (01) 1-7
  • 3 Rocha RS, Alves JA, Moura SB, Araujo Júnior E, Martins WP, Vasconcelos CT. et al. Comparison of three algorithms for prediction preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy. Pregnancy Hypertens 2017; 10: 113-7
  • 4 Redman CW, Sargent IL. Latest advances in understanding preeclampsia. Science 2005; 308 (5728): 1592-4
  • 5 Chaiworapongsa T, Chaemsaithong P, Yeo L, Romero R. Pre-eclampsia part 1: current understanding of its pathophysiology. Nat Rev Nephrol 2014; 10 (08) 466-80
  • 6 Magee LA, Nicolaides KH, von Dadelszen P. Preeclampsia. N Engl J Med 2022; 386 (19) 1817-32
  • 7 Thilaganathan B. Pre-eclampsia and the cardiovascular-placental axis. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018; 51 (06) 714-7
  • 8 Brown MA, Magee LA, Kenny LC, Karumanchi SA, McCarthy FP, Saito S. et al. The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: ISSHP classification, diagnosis & management recommendations for international practice. Pregnancy Hypertens 2018; 13: 291-310
  • 9 Cuckle HS. First trimester pre-eclampsia screening: why delay implementation?. BJOG 2018; 125 (04) 450
  • 10 Chaemsaithong P, Pooh RK, Zheng M, Ma R, Chaiyasit N, Tokunaka M. et al. Prospective evaluation of screening performance of first-trimester prediction models for preterm preeclampsia in an Asian population. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 221 (06) 650.e1-16
  • 11 North RA, McCowan LM, Dekker GA, Poston L, Chan EH, Stewart AW. et al. Clinical risk prediction for pre-eclampsia in nulliparous women: development of model in international prospective cohort. BMJ 2011; 342: d1875
  • 12 Grill S, Rusterholz C, Zanetti-Dällenbach R, Tercanli S, Holzgreve W, Hahn S. et al. Potential markers of preeclampsia–a review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2009; 7: 70
  • 13 Zhong Y, Tuuli M, Odibo AO. First-trimester assessment of placenta function and the prediction of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Prenat Diagn 2010; 30 (04) 293-308
  • 14 Poon LC, Kametas NA, Pandeva I, Valencia C, Nicolaides KH. Mean arterial pressure at 11(+0) to 13(+6) weeks in the prediction of preeclampsia. Hypertension 2008; 51: 1027-33
  • 15 Campbell S, Diaz-Recasens J, Griffin DR, Cohen-Overbeek TE, Pearce JM, Willson K. et al. New doppler technique for assessing uteroplacental blood flow. Lancet 1983; 1 (8326 Pt 1): 675-7
  • 16 Lees C. First-trimester screening for pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction: a test seeking both a treatment and an optimal timing. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2010; 35: 647-9
  • 17 Velauthar L, Zamora J, Aquilina J, Khan KS, Thangaratinam S. Prediction of pre-eclampsia using first trimester uterine artery Doppler: a meta analysis of 43 122 pregnancies. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2012; 40 (Suppl. 01) 49
  • 18 Napolitano R, Melchiorre K, Arcangeli T, Dias T, Bhide A, Thilaganathan B. Screening for pre-eclampsia by using changes in uterine artery Doppler indices with advancing gestation. Prenat Diagn 2012; 32 (02) 180-4
  • 19 Akolekar R, Zaragoza E, Poon LC, Pepes S, Nicolaides KH. Maternal serum placental growth factor at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks of gestation in the prediction of pre-eclampsia. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2008; 32 (06) 732-9
  • 20 Morris RK, Bilagi A, Devani P, Kilby MD. Association of serum PAPP-A levels in first trimester with small for gestational age and adverse pregnancy outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Prenat Diagn 2017; 37 (03) 253-65
  • 21 Oliveira N, Magder LS, Blitzer MG, Baschat AA. First-trimester prediction of pre-eclampsia: external validity of algorithms in a prospectively enrolled cohort. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2014; 44 (03) 279-85
  • 22 Poon LC, Stratieva V, Piras S, Piri S, Nicolaides KH. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: combined screening by uterine artery Doppler, blood pressure and serum PAPP-A at 11e13 weeks. Prenat Diagn 2010; 30 (03) 216-23
  • 23 Poon LC, Kametas NA, Maiz N, Akolekar R, Nicolaides KH. First-trimester prediction of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Hypertension 2009; 53 (05) 812-8
  • 24 Tan MY, Syngelaki A, Poon LC, Rolnik DL, O'Gorman N, Delgado JL. et al. Screening for pre-eclampsia by maternal factors and biomarkers at 11-13 weeks' gestation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018; 52 (02) 186-95
  • 25 Lobo GA, Nowak PM, Panigassi AP, Lima AI, Araujo Júnior E, Nardozza LM. et al. Validation of Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm for prediction of pre-eclampsia in the first trimester in an unselected Brazilian population. J Matern Fetal Neonat Med 2019; 32 (02) 286-92
  • 26 Poon LC, Shennan A, Hyett JA, Kapur A, Hadar E, Divakar H. 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; 145 (Suppl. 01) 1-33
  • 27 Rolnik D, Wright D, Poon LC, O'Gorman N, Syngelaki A, de Paco Matallana C. et al. Aspirin versus placebo in pregnancies at high risk for preterm preeclampsia. N Engl J Med 2017; 377 (07) 613-22
  • 28 Davenport MH, Ruchat SM, Poitras VJ, Jaramillo Garcia A, Gray CE, Barrowman N. et al. Prenatal exercise for the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med 2018; 52 (21) 1367-75
  • 29 Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita AT, Silver RM, Mallett G. et al. Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women. N Engl J Med 2018; 379 (06) 513-23
  • 30 Hypertension in pregnancy. Report of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2013; 122 (05) 1122-31
  • 31 Visintin C, Mugglestone MA, Almerie MQ, Nherera LM, James D, Walkinshaw S. Management of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2010; 341: c2207
  • 32 Magee LA, Pels A, Helewa M, Rey E, von Dadelszen P. Canadian Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Working Group. Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: executive summary. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2014; 36 (05) 416-41
  • 33 Ruffatti A, Favaro M, Calligaro A, Zambon A, Del Ross T. Management of pregnant women with antiphospholipid antibodies. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 15 (04) 347-58
  • 34 Hofmeyr GJ, Lawrie TA, Atallah AN, Duley L, Torloni MR. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014; (06) CD001059
  • 35 Beaufils M, Donsimoni R, Uzan S, Colau JC. Prevention of pre-eclampsia by early antiplatelet therapy. Lancet 1985; 325 (8433): 840-2
  • 36 Bujold E, Roberge S, Lacasse Y, Bureau M, Audibert F, Marcoux S. et al. Prevention of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction with aspirin started in early pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol 2010; 116 (2 Pt 1): 402-14
  • 37 CLASP: a randomised trial of low-dose aspirin for the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia among 9364 pregnant women. Lancet 1994; 343 (8898): 619-29
  • 38 Roberge S, Bujold E, Nicolaides KH. Aspirin for the prevention of preterm and term preeclampsia: systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018; 218 (03) 287-293.e1
  • 39 Meher S, Duley L, Hunter K, Askie L. Antiplatelet therapy before or after 16 weeks' gestation for preventing preeclampsia: an individual participant data meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 216 (02) 121-28.e2
  • 40 Panagodage S, Yong HE, Da Silva Costa F, Borg AJ, Kalionis B, Brennecke SP. et al. Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid treatment modulates the production of cytokines and improves trophoblast function in an in vitro model of early-onset preeclampsia. Am J Pathol 2016; 186 (12) 3217-24
  • 41 Caron N, Rivard GE, Michon N, Morin F, Pilon D, Moutquin JM. et al. Low-dose ASA response using the PFA-100 in women with high-risk pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2009; 31 (11) 1022-7
  • 42 Askie LM, Duley L, Henderson-Smart DJ, Stewart LA. PARIS Collaborative Group. Antiplatelet agents for prevention of pre-eclampsia: a meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet 2007; 369 (9575): 1791-8