Preeclampsia is a disease of pregnancy, manifested by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. While edema may accompany the condition, edema is not required nor does edema by itself indicate preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia, when it occurs, is almost always in the latter half of pregnancy, and is much more common in women having their first term pregnancy. It is important to identify it because it can lead to maternal illness as well as put the baby in jeopardy if undetected.

Preeclampsia is included under the "screening" category because checking for the onset of preeclampsia is routinely done as part of each prenatal visit. This is simply done by checking your blood pressure to confirm that it is lower than 140 over 90, and checking a sample of urine to make sure there is no leakage of significant protein by the kidneys.

If blood pressure is mildly elevated with protein in the urine, then other blood tests will be done to make sure there is no ongoing abnormality with blood clotting, platelet count, liver function, or kidney function.

Relevant chapters explaining the different severities, diagnosis, tests, and treatment for preeclampsia are here, along with more links found within these pages:

Mild preeclampsia

Severe preeclampsia

Hypertension in pregnancy