postpartum preeclampsia

Q:  Postpartum preeclampsia usually occurs within? (select one)

A) 24 hours

B) 48 hours 

C) 72 hours

D) one week

Answer: B

About one in 20 cases of preeclampsia cases get diagnosed up to 48 hours of delivery. Between 48 hours and up to six weeks of delivery, it is called delayed-onset or late postpartum preeclampsia. 

Other unusual presentations of preeclampsia are onset before 20 weeks (associated with complete or partial molar pregnancy or antiphospholipid syndrome), preeclampsia without hypertension, isolated hypertension, and isolated proteinuria.

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References:

1. Yancey LM, Withers E, Bakes K, Abbott J. Postpartum preeclampsia: emergency department presentation and management. J Emerg Med 2011; 40:380.

2. Matthys LA, Coppage KH, Lambers DS, et al. Delayed postpartum preeclampsia: an experience of 151 cases. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 190:1464.

3. Al-Safi Z, Imudia AN, Filetti LC, et al. Delayed postpartum preeclampsia and eclampsia: demographics, clinical course, and complications. Obstet Gynecol 2011; 118:1102.