O treatment definitive for preeclampsia is the induction of delivery. However, pre-eclampsia does not always occur at gestational ages that allow induction of labor without harm to the fetus. However, not interrupting pregnancy can have serious consequences for the mother, so the decision of when to induce labor takes into account the gestational age, a severity of preeclampsia and the condition of mother and fetus.
If the woman has completed 38 weeks of gestation or has severe preeclampsia above 34 weeks, the option for delivery is the most indicated. In other situations, each case is evaluated in its particularity and the treatment is done with outpatient follow-up or hospital stay for a closer follow-up of the progression of the disease and use of the appropriate medication. The preference is for normal childbirth whenever possible.
Hypertension should be under control, although this does not interfere with the course of the disease or the mortality of the mother or fetus. It is important to remember that some famous antihypertensives like Enalapril, Captopril and Adalat® are contraindicated in pregnancy and specific medication should be prescribed by the doctor / obstetrician.
Convulsive seizures are prevented by administration of intravenous magnesium sulphate.
In routine prenatal consultations, the obstetrician and / or family physician assess cases of suspected preeclampsia through clinical history, physical examination and complementary tests, for those with the correct diagnosis, guide the patient and prescribe the best treatment.
