Preeclampsia is caused primarily by problems with the placenta, the organ that nourishes the fetus during pregnancy. Early in pregnancy, blood vessels develop to supply oxygen and nutrients to the placenta. In preeclampsia, these blood vessels do not develop or function properly, leading to poor blood flow to the placenta. This placental dysfunction triggers abnormal regulation of the mother's blood pressure and can cause damage to blood vessels and organs such as the kidneys, resulting in high blood pressure and protein in the urine
. The exact cause of the abnormal placental development is not fully understood, but it likely involves multiple factors, including genetic influences from the mother or father, immune system responses, and maternal medical conditions such as diabetes or chronic hypertension. Other possible contributing mechanisms include uteroplacental ischemia (reduced blood flow to the placenta), endothelial cell activation, inflammation, and syncytiotrophoblast stress (stress on placental cells)
. Risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing preeclampsia include:
- Previous preeclampsia
- Multiple pregnancies (twins or more)
- Chronic high blood pressure or kidney disease
- Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
- Autoimmune disorders such as lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome
- First pregnancy or first pregnancy with a new partner
- Maternal age over 35 or under 15
- Obesity
- Family history of preeclampsia
- Use of assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization
In summary, preeclampsia is caused by abnormal development and function of the placenta, which leads to poor blood flow and triggers systemic maternal responses including high blood pressure and organ damage. The condition arises from a complex interplay of genetic, immunological, and vascular factors affecting placental blood vessels
