Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disease that occurs during pregnancy in 3 to 8% of pregnancies worldwide. This disease causes significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. This article attempts to understand the pathophysiological mechanism of preeclampsia, which appears to result from a complex interaction between maternal and fetal factors and affects multiple organ systems. A central role in pre-eclampsia appears to be abnormal placentation with subsequent excess of anti-angiogenic factors and malabsorption. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of preeclampsia to better understand the disease, more appropriate treatment, and reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.