RELATION BETWEEN MATERNAL BODY MASS INDEX AND THE RISK OF PRE-ECLAMPSIA

Abstract

eeclampsia is defined as the presence of a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg, on 2 occasions at least 4 hours apart in a previously normotensive patient. In addition to the blood pressure criteria, proteinuria of ≥ 0.3 grams in a 24-hour urine collection, a protein (mg/dl)/ creatinine (mg/dl) ratio of 0.3 or higher, or a urine dipstick protein of 1+ is required to diagnose preeclampsia (Jeyabalan et al., 2013). As preeclampsia presents at varied gestational ages and varies in severity, two distinct subtypes have been recognized. Early onset preeclampsia occurs prior to 34 weeks gestation, and late onset preeclampsia occurs at or beyond 34 weeks gestation (Lisonkova et al., 2013). Severe pre-eclampsia is pre-eclampsia with severe hypertension and/or with symptoms, and/or biochemical and/or haematological impairment (NICE clinical guideline, 2011). Obesity now affects more than one-third of reproductive-aged women, and escalating rates of obesity may contribute to an increased prevalence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (Bodnar et al., 2007). There is agreat need to study the relation between BMI and the rate of developing preeclampsia, time of onset and severity.