Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and protein in the urine that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy.

The exact cause of preeclampsia is not known. Possible causes include:

• Autimmune disorders
• Blood vessel problems
• Diet
• Genes

Preeclampsia occurs in a small percentage of pregnancies. Risk factors include:

• African-American heritage
• First pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancies
• Older than age 35
• Past history of diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease

Symptoms of preeclampsia can include:

• Headaches
• Swelling of the hands and face (edema)
• Weight gain
  • More than 2 pounds per week
  • Sudden weight gain over 1 - 2 days

Note: Some swelling of the feet and ankles is considered normal with pregnancy.

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

• Abdominal pain
• Agitation
• Decreased urine output
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vision changes

• Increase in blood pressure
• Elevated liver function tests
• Platelet count less than 100,000 (thrombocytopenia)
• Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
• Swelling in the upper body
• Weight gain