Preeclampsia, is a deadly disease both for mothers and their fetuses. Recently, preclampsia has not only been considered a disease during pregnancy but also a risk factor for developing diseases later in life.

Preeclampsia has become not only a disease that obstetricians and gynecologists are interested in but it halso is becoming a disease of interest to internists.

Women who have had preeclampsia seem to be at higher risk of

  • Premature death
  • Mortality from ischemic heart disease,
  • Cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease and hypertension
  • Fatal and non-fatal stroke
  • Venous thromboembolism
  • Renal failure
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Cognitive defects

Having had preeclampsia is a problem not only for the mother’s future health, but it also affects the offspring’s adult health.

Children born from preeclamptic pregnancies are more prone to:

  • Hypertension
  • Insulin resistance 
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Neurological problems
  • Stroke
  • Mental disorders along their life.

Whether preeclampsia is a risk factor for disease later in life or it creates long-term organ damage is an intriguing question.

A study called "Preeclampsia: No longer solely a pregnancy disease" published in the journal Pregnancy Hypertension reviewed what could happen to children born to mothers with preeclampsia.