Prognosis

Preeclampsia is a self-limiting condition of pregnancy that usually resolves once the placenta has been delivered, although it may persist for a few days post delivery. There are few long-term sequelae; however, there are some long-term disease associations.

Disease course

The course of preeclampsia is altered by treatment, and the condition can be controlled easily in most pregnant women, usually within a few hours of starting treatment. Once controlled, the length of the disease depends on when delivery is decided. After delivery, the condition normally settles within 2 to 4 days; however, some women have hypertensive problems and proteinuria for some weeks after.

Recurrence

The overall risk of recurrence of preeclampsia in subsequent pregnancies is approximately 16%.[16] For women who gave birth at 28-34 weeks, risk of recurrence in future pregnancies is about 33%; if birth was at 34-37 weeks, risk is approximately 23%.[16]

Long-term disease associations

Women with preeclampsia have an increased long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension and stroke, type 2 diabetes, and renal disease.[102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112]​ However, there is currently a lack of understanding of preeclampsia subtypes, which include differences in the timing of onset in pregnancy, the presence of severe features and the association of intrauterine growth restriction. These features may have different long-term implications for cardiovascular risk.[113]

There are no clear guidelines on the long-term follow-up of women who have had preeclampsia. However, regular evaluation of their risk for cardiovascular disease, including previous preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy alongside body mass index and other lifestyle factors, provides an opportunity for prevention interventions.[16][114]

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