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Who is at risk for developing preeclampsia?

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Pregnancy-induced hypertension, also commonly referred to as toxemia, can occur in any pregnant woman, but some women are at increased risk for developing this disorder. Pregnant women considered to be at increased risk include:

  • Women who are pregnant for the first time. (Increased risk is present in a subsequent pregnancy if the father is different from the father of the other pregnancy.)
  • Women who have had pregnancy-induced hypertension in a previous pregnancy.
  • Women whose mother or sister has developed preeclampsia.
  • Women younger than age 20 or older than 35.
  • Women who are pregnant with more than one baby such as twins and triplets.
  • Women who already have medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure (before becoming pregnant), kidney disease and lupus.
  • Women who are malnourished or overweight at the start of pregnancy.
  • Women who are African-American.
  • Women who are carrying a baby with a certain chromosomal abnormalities and sometimes women with an abnormal maternal serum alpha feto protein.

View the original Who is at risk for developing preeclampsia? article on myOptumHealth.com 

SOURCES:

  • Williams DE, Pridjian G. Obstetrics. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. Accessed June 1, 2009. Accessed: 06/01/2009
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. High blood pressure during pregnancy. Accessed: 09/29/2009
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