Hospital Posadas Opens Specialized Clinic for Preeclampsia

The Hospital Posadas has launched a specialized clinic dedicated to preeclampsia, a condition identified as the primary cause of maternal and perinatal mortality in Argentina. Mariano Lorea, head of Obstetrics at the hospital, emphasized the critical need for such a specialized center to provide rapid diagnostic and individualized treatment for affected women.

Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure in pregnant women, typically appearing after the 20th week of gestation. The World Health Organization reports that this hypertensive disorder affects between 3% and 8% of births worldwide, contributing to approximately 16% of global maternal deaths. Symptoms can vary but often include persistent high blood pressure, protein in the urine, severe headaches, visual disturbances, upper abdominal pain, and swelling in the hands and face.

Marcos Hermida, head of the Perinatal Department at Hospital Posadas, highlighted the challenges in managing preeclampsia due to its variable severity. Inadequate diagnosis can lead to unnecessary hospitalizations for some patients while delaying critical care for others. Untreated preeclampsia can result in severe immediate and long-term consequences for both mother and fetus, including eclampsia (seizures), HELLP syndrome, organ damage, premature birth, fetal growth restriction, and even death.

The new Clinic for Preeclampsia and Placental Vascular Disease (CPEVP) integrates various diagnostic tools beyond blood pressure monitoring. It incorporates symptom analysis, laboratory results, Doppler ultrasound, biomarkers, and hemodynamic evaluations to individualize patient risk assessment. Dr. Lorea explained that the clinic treats preeclampsia as a complex condition with diverse presentations, analyzing maternal circulation to tailor care. The clinic's goals include earlier and more accurate diagnosis, improved risk stratification, prevention of unnecessary hospitalizations, early detection of severe cases, and postpartum follow-up.