The Medical Journal of Basrah University

Abstract

ABSTRACT
This is a case-control study, carried out to estimate the frequency of parous women with pre-eclampsia
among all deliveries conducted in the study period (September 2004 -September 2005); to identify
demographic, medical and obstetrical risk factors that are associated with recurrence of pre-eclampsia
in subsequent pregnancies as well as to assess perinatal outcome. The study included 165 parous women
with pre-eclampsia as (cases) compared to 200 normotensive parous women as (controls). The study
found that the incidence of parous women with pre-eclampsia was about 1% of all deliveries. Recurrence
rate was about 55%. Advanced maternal age, body overweight and obesity, chronic hypertension,
previous pre-eclampsia, long interval between pregnancies, previous preterm labor, poor antenatal care
and family history of pre-eclampsia were the main risk factors associated with development of preeclampsia.
Higher rate of cesarean section for eclampsia, fetal distress and abruption placenta was
found among parous women with pre-eclampsia as well as high rate of abruption placenta and
postpartum haemorrhage as obstetrical complications. Adverse perinatal outcome was reported in
women with pre-eclampsia in term of high rate of preterm delivery, fetal death, low birth weight and
low apgar scor. In conclusion; the overall recurrence of pre-eclampsia in subsequent pregnancies is still
high with poor prognosis regarding maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.