Active Management Reduces the Incidence of Recurrent Pre-eclampsia and Improves Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Women With Recurrent Pre-eclampsia

Common pathogenesis of early and late preeclampsia: evidence from recurrences and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether there is an association between the gestational age at the onset of preeclampsia in recurrent cases and the gestational age at the onset of preeclampsia in previous pregnancies.

METHODS

This retrospective nested case-control study was designed to investigate whether gestational age at diagnosis and at delivery in recurrent cases of preeclampsia correlates with gestational age at diagnosis and delivery in the previous cases of preeclampsia in the same individuals. The database of a Ukrainian research network was used to find patients with the diagnosis of preeclampsia between 2019 and 2021. The database was further queried to identify those with a history of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy. The comparison was made using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

One hundred and three patients who were diagnosed with preeclampsia were identified. Of those, 15 had recurrent preeclampsia, 2 of whom had preeclampsia in 2 previous pregnancies. There was no statistically significant correlation: based on gestational age at delivery R = - 0.28 (P = 0.30; 95% confidence interval (- 0.69 to 0.28) and based on gestational age at the time of diagnosis R = - 0.14 (P = 0.62; - 0.60 to 0.41).

CONCLUSION

Our data do not find an association between the gestational age of recurrent preeclampsia and preeclampsia diagnosed in a previous pregnancy. This supports the idea that there is single pathogenesis for preeclampsia regardless of the gestational age. It suggests that there are variations in the course of preeclampsia that may be determined by the capacity of the compensatory mechanisms.

Clinical Analysis of Risk Factors and Perinatal Outcomes in Recurrent Pre-Eclampsia with Severe Features

To analyze the differences in risk factors and pregnancy outcomes between recurrent and initial pre-eclampsia(PE) with severe features. Data from recurrent (n = 128) and initial (n = 904) PE with severe features who terminated their pregnancy or gave birth at 20 weeks of gestation or later at the tertiary teaching hospital (Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Women and Children's Healthcare Hospital) from January 2016 to December 2022 were collected. Risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features and differences in pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were assessed using the chi-square test, student t-test, or nonparametric test. Independent risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features were further analyzed by logistic regression. (1) Logistic regression analysis identified 3 independent risk factors for recurrent PE with severe features: history of cesarean section, rural residence and chronic hypertension. In addition, assisted reproductive technology (ART) is an independent risk factor for initial PE with severe features; (2) The incidence of oligohydramnios, chorioamnionitis, preterm birth, stillbirth, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and abnormal umbilical blood flow was higher in the recurrent PE with severe features group than in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). In contrast, the incidence of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) was higher in the group of initial PE with severe features(P < 0.05); (3) In the recurrent PE with severe features group, gestational age(GA) of birth and birth weight were lower than those in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). Also, the incidence of mild asphyxia, the rate of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization, length of stay in NICU, and the rate of abandoning treatment in the recurrent PE with severe features group were higher than those in the initial PE with severe features group(P < 0.05). 3 independent risk factors was identified for recurrent PE with severe features: history of cesarean section, rural residence and chronic hypertension. Women with recurrent PE with severe features are more likely to have adverse perinatal outcomes than those with initial PE with severe features.

Development, validation, and clinical utility of a risk prediction model for recurrent preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES

We aim to establish a predictive model for recurrent preeclampsia.

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records from three hospitals between 2010 and 2021 was conducted. The study included women who had two consecutive singleton deliveries at the same hospital, with the first delivery complicated by preeclampsia. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed using a training cohort, and subsequently cross-validated and tested using an independent cohort. The model's performance was assessed in terms of discrimination and calibration, and its clinical utility was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

Among 296 405 deliveries, 694 women met the inclusion criteria, with 151 (21.8%) experiencing recurrent preeclampsia. The predictive model incorporated 10 risk factors from previous preeclampsia, including gestational weeks with elevated blood pressure, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pericardial effusion, heart failure, limb edema, serum creatinine, white blood cell count, low platelet counts within one week before delivery, SBP on the first postpartum day, and postpartum antihypertensive use. Additionally, one risk factor from the index pregnancy was included, which was antihypertensive use before 20 weeks. The model demonstrated better discrimination, calibration, and a net benefit across a wide range of recurrent preeclampsia risk thresholds. Furthermore, the model has been translated into a clinical risk calculator, enabling clinicians to calculate individualized risks of recurrent preeclampsia.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that a predictive tool utilizing routine clinical and laboratory factors can accurately estimate the risk of recurrent preeclampsia. This predictive model has the potential to facilitate shared decision-making by providing personalized and risk-stratified care.

The Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Focus on Definitions for Clinical Nephrologists

About 5-10% of pregnancies are complicated by one of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The women who experience these disorders have a greater risk of having or developing kidney diseases than women with normotensive pregnancies. While international guidelines do not provide clear indications for a nephrology work-up after pregnancy, this is increasingly being advised by nephrology societies. The definitions of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have changed greatly in recent years. The objective of this short review is to gather and comment upon the main definitions of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as a support for nephrologists, who are increasingly involved in the short- and long-term management of women with these disorders.