What are the possible complications of pre-eclampsia?
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Most women with pre-eclampsia do not develop serious complications. The risks increase the more severe the pre-eclampsia becomes.
For the mother
Serious complications are uncommon but include the following.
- Eclampsia (described above).
- Liver, kidney, and lung problems.
- A blood clotting disorder.
- A stroke (bleeding into the brain).
- Severe bleeding from the placenta.
- HELLP syndrome occurs in about 1 in 5 women who have severe pre-eclampsia. HELLP stands for 'haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets' which are some of the medical features of this severe form of pre-eclampsia. Haemolysis means that the blood cells start to break down. Elevated liver enzymes means that the liver has become affected. Low platelets means that the number of platelets in the blood is low and you are at risk of serious bleeding problems.
For the baby
The poor blood supply in the placenta can reduce the amount of nutrients and oxygen to the growing baby. On average, babies of mothers with pre-eclampsia tend to be smaller. There is also an increased risk of stillbirth.
About 10 women, and several hundred babies, die each year in the UK from the complications of severe pre-eclampsia. The risk of complications is reduced if pre-eclampsia is diagnosed early and treated.
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