Title:Preeclampsia and the Future Development of Cardiovascular Disease: A Review
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
Author(s): Awathif Dhanya Mackeen and Alfred George Neubert
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cardiovascular disease, gestational hypertensive disease, preeclampsia, pregnancy complications.
Abstract: Preeclampsia, a condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria, is a
complication that affects up to 5% of all pregnancies. Past research suggested that there were no long
term cardiovascular effects after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. However, more recent
evidence has made it increasingly clear that the risks associated with preeclampsia do not end at birth:
women diagnosed with preeclampsia face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. In
this review of the literature, we provide insight on the pathophysiological similarities between
preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease, investigate the hypothesis of shared predisposing risk
factors that lead to preeclampsia and subsequently cardiovascular disease versus the theory that
preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular disease, provide important
information regarding patient outcomes and clinical recommendations, and reveal potential goals for
future research.