Disease that affects pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Factors promoting its appearance are genetic predisposition, first pregnancy, multiple pregnancy and renal disease.
Its manifestations are hypertension, protein leakage in the urine and oedema. The most common symptoms include swelling of the face, hands and/or legs, rapid weight gain (more than a kilo per week), persistant headache which may be accompanied by visual disturbances, abdominal pain in the area under the ribs on the right side, nausea, vomits and irritability. It may worsen as the pregnancy progresses. It could lead to severe complications for both the mother and foetus. Symptoms resolve after delivery.
The diagnosis is made by reviewing the patient's clinical history, a physical examination (detection of hypertension) and is confirmed by protein loss in the urine.
Treatment is symptomatic and, depending on a specific severity criteria, it may involve the delivery of the baby as soon as possible.
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