A study to compare maternal and perinatal outcome in early vs. late onset preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE

The risk factors, clinical trends, and maternal and fetal health of early- and late-onset preeclampsia have not been adequately studied. We examined the effects of early- and late-onset preeclampsia on maternal and perinatal outcomes as well as the known risk factors of preeclampsia.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty women with preeclampsia were consecutively enrolled in each group. Those who developed preeclampsia before 34 weeks of gestation were identified as having early-onset preeclampsia, while those who developed at 34 weeks or later were identified as having late-onset preeclampsia. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTS

Compared with the late-onset group, the early-onset group had higher rates of abruptio placentae (16% vs. 7.3%; =0.019), but there was no intergroup difference in the composite maternal outcomes. A significantly higher number of women with early-onset preeclampsia developed severe features during the disease course, and most required treatment with antihypertensive drugs. Late-onset preeclampsia was more prevalent among primigravid mothers. Babies born to mothers with early-onset preeclampsia had a significantly higher rate of adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

These study findings indicate that women with early-onset preeclampsia had more adverse outcome than those with late-onset preeclampsia, but the difference was not statistically significant. There were more babies with adverse perinatal outcomes in the early-than late-onset group.