Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are just one of the risk factors for stroke in patients with preeclampsia, according to research reported by Medscape.
Coagulopathies, prothrombotic states, and chronic hypertension are also associated with an increased risk for stroke among women with preeclampsia, the study showed.
“Preeclampsia is sometimes not on the radar of neurologists, but it should be,” said Dr Miller at a session during the American Academy of Neurology 2017 Annual Meeting (AAN).
A multisystem disorder, preeclampsia is defined as new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, dysfunction in another organ system, or cerebral symptoms (such as headache or visual symptoms).
Although the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not completely understood, the condition complicates 3% to 8% of pregnancies, said Dr Miller. It has high morbidity and accounts for 12% of maternal deaths, she added.
“And if you do have cerebral symptoms, that automatically qualifies you as having severe preeclampsia.”
Get the whole story at www.medscape.com
