Prediction of preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) remains one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Several guidelines recommend assessing the risk of PE based on maternal risk factors. A combination of maternal risk factors such as maternal demographic characteristics, medical history, and biomarkers such as maternal arterial blood pressure, uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index, and maternal serum biochemical markers (placental growth factor and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A) is considered the best predictor for preterm PE, but not for term PE. The combined screening was superior to screening for maternal risk factors only in terms of predictive ability for preterm PE. According to the ASpirin for evidence-based PREeclampsia prevention (ASPRE) trial, when low-dose (150 mg/day) aspirin was administered to high-risk women from 11 to 14 weeks to 36 weeks of gestation, preterm PE reduced by 62%. Low-dose aspirin started before 16 weeks of gestation (>100 mg/ day) reduced the risk of preterm PE. To prevent PE occurrence, it is crucial to assess the risk of PE in early pregnancy.