Aetiology and Physiopathology of Preeclampsia and Related Forms (Continuing Medical Education) (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Preeclampsia (PE), which affects 3 to 5 % of all pregnancies, is still a leading cause of materno-foetal morbidity and mortality. It is a pregnancy-specific syndrome that resolves with placental delivery. PE is defined by the onset of hypertension and proteinuria ([greater than or equal to] 0,3g/24h) after 20 weeks of gestation, with or without oedema. In severe forms of PE, some clinical and biological complications occur: headache, epigastric pain, visual disorders, thrombocytopenia and alteration of liver enzymes. These clinical manifestations are caused by the mild to severe microangiopathy that affects target organs like the liver, the brain, the kidneys and the placenta (1).