title: An epidemiological investigation of pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure among Kampuchean refugee women at Sakaeo Holding Center, Thailand.
abstract: An investigation was undertaken at Sakaeo Holding Center in Thailand to determine the cause for an increase in the frequency of pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure among Kampuchean refugee women. A review of the admission and delivery logs revealed an incidence rate of 12.6 per 100 deliveries from March to August 1982. A study based on review of antenatal records indicated that haematocrit levels were significantly lower in the second and third trimesters among cases. When other Kampuchean holding centres were visited, pre-eclampsia and elevated blood pressure cases were few, and haematocrit levels were substantially higher than at Sakaeo. After an iron therapy programme was instituted at Sakaeo, there was a decrease in the number of pre-eclampsia cases.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000150:complications; D001835:Body Weight; D002160:Cambodia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012036:Refugees; D013785:Thailand