Types of pre-eclampsia

Hypertension in pregnancy is divided into several types, and pre-eclampsia is one of them.

Types of high blood pressure in pregnancy

• Chronic hypertension: high blood pressure before pregnancy or before 20 weeks
• Gestational hypertension: high blood pressure after 20 weeks, without protein in the urine or organ damage
• Pre-eclampsia: high blood pressure after 20 weeks with protein in the urine or signs of organ involvement
• Chronic hypertension with superimposed pre-eclampsia: pre-eclampsia in a woman who already has high blood pressure
• Eclampsia: pre-eclampsia with seizures

Pre-eclampsia by severity and timing

• Pre-eclampsia without severe features: raised blood pressure with less marked findings
• Pre-eclampsia with severe features: very high blood pressure, low platelets, abnormal liver or kidney tests, severe headache, vision changes, fluid in lungs
• Early-onset: before 34 weeks, often more severe