Association of pre-eclampsia with or without superimposed chronic hypertension in pregnant women with the risk of congenital abnormalities in their offspring: a population-based case-control study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of pre-eclampsia (PE) or PE with superimposed chronic hypertension (PE+SCH) in pregnant women with the risk of various structural birth defects (i.e. congenital abnormalities) in their offspring.

Study design: A population-based case-control study using the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities data set (1980-1996), including 22,843 cases with congenital abnormalities and 38,151 matched controls without any congenital abnormalities. The incidence of PE and PE+SCH was compared in women who had offspring with congenital abnormalities (cases) and women who had offspring without any congenital abnormalities (controls).

Results: The incidence of PE was examined in 585 cases and 1017 controls, and the incidence of PE+SCH was examined in 154 cases and 269 controls. None of the 25 studied types of congenital abnormality was found to be more likely among the offspring of women with PE. However, the risks of renal dysgenesis [odds ratio (OR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7-12.8], esophageal atresia/stenosis (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8-12.2) and rectal/anal stenosis (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.6-8.5) were higher in the offspring of pregnant women with PE+SCH.

Conclusions: PE in pregnant women was not associated with a higher risk of any congenital abnormalities in their offspring, but PE+SCH was associated with a higher risk of renal dysgenesis, esophageal atresia/stenosis and rectal/anal stenosis. These findings need confirmation in other studies.