title: Comparison of clinical and laboratory findings in early- and late-onset preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical and laboratory findings between the early-onset preeclampsia (EOP) and late-onset preeclampsia (LOP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective longitudinal study was performed at a tertiary referral university clinic. All patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups, the EOP group and the LOP group, according to gestational age at the onset of disease. The distinction criterion for early versus late onset was set as week 34 of gestation. Clinical and laboratory findings, and maternal-perinatal outcomes were compared between the groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 157 patients with preeclampsia were included. A significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of diagnosis and severity of the disease (p = 0.007 and <0.001, respectively). The history of previous preeclampsia, diastolic blood pressure and hourly urine output on admission to the hospital were significantly different between the groups (p = 0.016, 0.018 and 0.024, respectively). Latent period for delivery and postpartum hospitalization time were longer in the EOP group than in the LOP group (p = 0.024 and 0.002, respectively). The patients with EOP received betamethazone (p < 0.001) and MgSO4 (p = 0.029) more frequently. Neonatal characteristics such as birth weight, low APGAR score and admission to neonatal intensive care unit were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.001, for all variables). Total proteinuria at 24 h was found significantly higher in the EOP group than in the LOP group (p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results confirmed the opinion that EOP is a distinct and more severe clinical entity than LOP. In particular, higher proteinuria is associated with EOP.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey. ukucukgoz@yahoo.com
authors: Umran
authors: U
authors: Kucukgoz Gulec
authors: Fatma Tuncay
authors: FT
authors: Ozgunen
authors: Selim
authors: S
authors: Buyukkurt
authors: Ahmet Baris
authors: AB
authors: Guzel
authors: Ibrahim Ferhat
authors: IF
authors: Urunsak
authors: Suleyman Cansun
authors: SC
authors: Demir
authors: Ismail Cuneyt
authors: IC
authors: Evruke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult