title: Preeclampsia: what could happen in a subsequent pregnancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia is the most common type of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, affecting nearly 5% of pregnant women. The risk of recurrence influences the choices of parents regarding subsequent pregnancies and necessitates the counseling of obstetricians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the risk of recurrence of hypertensive disorders in a subsequent pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with a history of preeclampsia are at an increased risk of preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. The magnitude of this risk is dependent on gestational age at the time of disease onset, severity of disease, and presence or absence of preexisting medical disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For preeclamptic women with severe features in an initial pregnancy, recurrence rates for any type of preeclampsia are very high, approaching 50% in some studies. Significant maternal and fetal complications are more common in recurrent preeclampsia compared with an initial episode. Because women with previous preeclampsia are at an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, abruptio placentae, and fetal death) in subsequent pregnancies, we recommend more frequent monitoring for signs and symptoms of severe hypertension or preeclampsia than that recommended for normal pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The best option is to review the existing literature with patients, allow them to make informed decisions, and provide them the best available prenatal care.
authors.affiliation: Teaching Researcher.
authors.forename: Stefano R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Giannubilo
authors.affiliation: Research.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.affiliation: Head of Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciavattini
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors