What Causes Preeclampsia and Eclampsia in Pregnancy?

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Creator: Liv Hospital
Published: 2026-01-01

Understand the causes of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia during pregnancy. Our experts explain the risk factors and symptoms.

Aslı Köse

Valdori Content Team

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Every minute, a pregnant woman somewhere develops a hypertensive disorder that can strike suddenly without warning. Preeclampsia affects about 3-8% of expectant mothers worldwide, making it a big concern in maternal health. Understanding the underlying factors is key to protecting both mother and baby during this time.

This condition often shows up as high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of gestation. If not managed, it can lead to severe seizures, which are life-threatening. We aim to provide evidence-based care to catch these issues early and prevent dangerous complications.

By knowing your unique risk profile, we can offer the support you need. Our team at Liv Hospital focuses on your safety with top-notch medical care and caring guidance. We think knowing is the first step to a healthy pregnancy journey.

Key Takeaways

Preeclampsia is a serious hypertensive disorder impacting 3-8% of pregnancies globally.
Early detection is vital to prevent the progression into life-threatening seizures.
High blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 weeks are primary clinical indicators.
Identifying individual risk factors allows for more effective and personalized medical management.
Professional, evidence-based care significantly improves outcomes for both mother and child.

Understanding the Primary Pre Eclampsia Cause

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Knowing what causes preeclampsia is key to treating it well. Preeclampsia is a complex condition linked to the placenta’s growth. Problems with how the placenta develops and works are at the heart of preeclampsia.

The Biological Mechanism of Preeclampsia

The main issue in preeclampsia is the placenta’s failure to grow into the uterine arteries. This leads to placental ischemia, where the placenta doesn’t get enough blood. This causes the placenta to release harmful factors into the mother’s blood. These factors lead to endothelial dysfunction, showing up as high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

The exact process is complex. It involves an imbalance between angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors. For example, too much of the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt-1 can stop normal blood vessel growth. This helps explain how preeclampsia develops.

Abnormal placentation
Imbalance in angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors
Endothelial dysfunction

Distinguishing Between Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are closely related, but eclampsia is more severe, involving seizures. Preeclampsia is marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If not treated, preeclampsia can turn into eclampsia, which is dangerous.

Going from preeclampsia to eclampsia is a big concern. It can harm both the mother and the baby. Knowing the signs and risks of preeclampsia is vital to stop it from getting worse.

A leading medical expert says, “The key to managing preeclampsia is early detection and proper care to stop it from turning into eclampsia.”

Risk Factors and Predisposing Conditions

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Preeclampsia risk comes from genetics, health, and demographics. Knowing these factors helps catch the condition early and manage it well.

We’ll look at the risk factors and conditions that raise a woman’s chance of getting preeclampsia. This includes genetic links, health issues, and lifestyle and demographic factors.

Genetic Predisposition and Family History

A family history of preeclampsia ups a woman’s risk, showing a genetic link. Studies show women with a family history are more likely to get it. This is because some genes make women more prone to preeclampsia.

Maternal Health Factors and Chronic Conditions

Health issues like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity raise preeclampsia risk. These conditions can make pregnancy harder and increase preeclampsia risk. It’s key to manage these conditions before and during pregnancy.

Demographic and Lifestyle Considerations

First-time pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, and certain demographics also raise preeclampsia risk. Lifestyle choices can affect health and preeclampsia risk. For example, carrying multiple babies puts more strain on the body.

The Role of the Placenta in Preeclampsia and Eclampsia

The placenta’s abnormal growth is a major cause of preeclampsia. This growth issue can cause poor blood flow to the placenta, leading to ischemia.

Abnormal Placental Development

The placenta doesn’t develop right because the spiral arteries in the uterus don’t change as they should. This leads to high resistance and low blood flow to the placenta, causing ischemia.

Ischemia makes the placenta release harmful factors. These factors can cause problems with blood vessels in the mother. This is a key sign of preeclampsia, leading to high blood pressure and protein in the urine.

How Placental Dysfunction Triggers Systemic Symptoms

When the placenta doesn’t work right, it sends harmful substances into the mother’s blood. These substances can damage blood vessels all over the body. This damage is what causes the symptoms of preeclampsia.

Increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictors
Activation of the coagulation system
Release of pro-inflammatory cytokines

These changes cause the symptoms of preeclampsia, like high blood pressure and a lot of protein in the urine.

The Progression to Eclampsia

Preeclampsia can sometimes turn into eclampsia, which is when a pregnant woman has seizures. The exact reasons for this are not fully known. But it’s thought to be because of very bad damage to blood vessels and cerebral vasospasm.

Things that help eclampsia happen include:

Very high blood pressure
Problems with blood clotting
Swelling in the brain

Conclusion

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are serious conditions that can harm both mom and baby if not treated right. It’s key to know what causes them to manage and prevent them well.

The placenta is very important in preeclampsia. Problems with its growth can cause the condition. Studies show that genetics, mom’s health, and other factors play a big role.

Healthcare teams can help by knowing the risks and causes. Early action and care are vital to stop eclampsia and help both mom and baby.

We stress the need for full prenatal care and watching closely. This way, any problems can be caught early and treated quickly.