Obstetric prognosis in second pregnancy after preeclampsia in first pregnancy

Objective: To assess obstetric outcomes in women in their second pregnancy after preeclampsia in the first pregnancy. Methods: We utilized population-based birth registry data of Kuopio Univers ity Hospital to investigate pregnancy outcome measures in 123 non-preeclamp tic parous women with prior preeclampsia and 21 women with repeat preeclamp sia in their second pregnancy. The general obstetric population was used as a reference group in logistic regression. Results: The development of recurrent preeclampsia in 15% of women is assoc iated with adverse neonatal outcomes. A first preeclamptic pregnancy may of fer protection against disease recurrence and a history of preeclampsia has no significant effects on birth weight, fetal distress, or prematurity rat e. However, they have a higher rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension and a bdominal deliveries, and, therefore, a greater proportion of newborns are r eferred to neonatal units for observation. Conclusions: Women in whom preeclampsia does not recur have good obstetric outcomes in their second delivery, almost comparable to that in the general obstetric population. A genetic susceptibility to preeclampsia alone has m inor effects on pregnancy outcome in a second pregnancy if the disease does not recur.