Severe Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is considered severe when:

• Blood pressure is greater than 160/110 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) on at least two occasions, at least 6 hours apart.
• The amount of protein in the urine is greater than 5 g in a 24-hour period.
• Urine output drops to less than 500 mL over 24 hours or is consistently less than 30 mL per hour.
• Symptoms such as upper right abdominal pain, vision problems, or severe headaches develop.
• Evidence of fluid in the lungs appears along with a reduced platelet count.
• HELLP syndrome develops. This is a life-threatening liver disorder thought to be a type of severe preeclampsia.
• The fetus is not growing at the rate expected (intrauterine growth restriction, or IUGR).
• Amniotic fluid volume has decreased (oligohydramnios).

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