BMJ  2005;330:549-550 (12 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7491.549

Editorial

Pre-eclampsia matters

New guideline is simple, evidence based, and clinical, and should be used

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Pre-eclampsia matters. In both the developed and the developing world, pre-eclampsia is important. It remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and extensive morbidity. The reports of the Confidential Enquiry Into Maternal Deaths¹ have identified deficiencies in care in relation to pre-eclampsia in successive reports since the 1950s. In this issue, the systematic review by Duckitt and Harrington quantifies the risk of pre-eclampsia associated with different factors present at the antenatal booking visit (p 565).² The rationale is that this risk assessment will inform allocation of the woman to a suitable surveillance routine to detect pre-eclampsia.

The risk of pre-eclampsia is increased with a previous history of pre-eclampsia, pre-existing diabetes, multiple pregnancy, a family history for pre-eclampsia, a raised body mass index before pregnancy or at booking, raised blood pressure at booking, and the presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies. These risk factors are important, with relative . . . [Full text of this article]

University of Glasgow, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow G31 2ER (I.A.Greer@clinmed.gla.ac.uk)

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