Since the treatment of PE may cause a high risk of damage to both the maternal and fetal health, the clinician must carefully weigh the maternal risks against the possible fetal benefits when attempting to manage the disorder. Several prophylactic therapies (antioxidant vitamins, calcium or folic acid supplementation, and aspirin) have been used. However, these have so far failed to prove efficacious in the prevention of preeclampsia in healthy women who have no previous pregnancies, although some benefit has been shown in other high-risk groups.
PE management is central to treatment, especially when the condition presents during the early months of pregnancy. The accurate identification of women at risk, early diagnosis, and prompt and appropriate management (eg, antenatal corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation, treatment of severe hypertension, or early delivery) can improve maternal outcome and possibly perinatal outcome as well. Therefore, diagnosing PE in the early stages of a pregnancy can help women avoid an unexpected traumatic event when they go into labor and may aid in the decision to manage PE patients with bed rest and other therapeutic options. However, delivery of the baby is the only known cure for PE.
