Late onset preeclampsia is not an innocuous condition

Abstract

Objective: To describe the profile and outcome of late-onset preeclampsia (LOPE).

Methods: Retrospective study of 264 singleton pregnancies presenting before delivery at two referral centres in South Africa.

Results: Primigravid patients constituted 56.8% of the group, while 57.6% were graded as severe. Median gestational age at diagnosis was 37 (34-43) weeks. 30.7% of patients experienced >or=1 major maternal complication including 34 (12.9%) cases of eclampsia. There were no maternal or early neonatal deaths. Five intrauterine deaths occurred, all due to placental abruption. The perinatal mortality rate was 18.9 per thousand births.

Conclusions: Late-onset preeclampsia often presents as severe disease.