Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
SOMANZ 2023 diagnostic criteria, the work-up including urine PCR and sFlt-1/PlGF, acute BP control, magnesium sulphate and its toxicity, HELLP, timing of birth and long-term risk.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- Pre-eclampsia is a placental disorder with maternal endothelial dysfunction. It affects 2 to 5% of pregnancies and remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal death.
- Diagnosis is new hypertension after 20 weeks plus organ involvement. Proteinuria is common but not required (SOMANZ 2023).
- The only cure is birth of the placenta. Until then: control BP, give magnesium sulphate for neurological risk, watch for deterioration, and time birth.
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Sources
- SOMANZ Hypertension in Pregnancy Guideline 2023AU/NZSociety of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (NHMRC approved), 2023 (current; no later SOMANZ hypertension guideline found, November 2026)
- Summary of the 2023 Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) hypertension in pregnancy guidelineAU/NZShanmugalingam R et al. Med J Aust 2024, 2024
- The 2021 International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy classification, diagnosis and management recommendations for international practiceMagee LA et al. Pregnancy Hypertens 2022;27:148-69, 2021
- Hypertension in pregnancy: diagnosis and management (NG133)National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2019, updated 2023
- Serum creatinine in pregnancy: a systematic reviewWiles K et al. Kidney Int Rep 2019;4:408-19, 2019
- Predictive value of the sFlt-1:PlGF ratio in women with suspected preeclampsia (PROGNOSIS)Zeisler H et al. N Engl J Med 2016;374:13-22, 2016
- Do women with pre-eclampsia, and their babies, benefit from magnesium sulphate? The Magpie TrialMagpie Trial Collaborative Group. Lancet 2002;359:1877-90, 2002
- Aspirin versus placebo in pregnancies at high risk for preterm preeclampsia (ASPRE)Rolnik DL et al. N Engl J Med 2017;377:613-22, 2017
- Planned early delivery or expectant management for late preterm pre-eclampsia (PHOENIX)Chappell LC et al. Lancet 2019;394:1181-90, 2019
- Induction of labour versus expectant monitoring for gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia after 36 weeks' gestation (HYPITAT)Koopmans CM et al. Lancet 2009;374:979-88, 2009
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy