Preeclampsia: What's New?

Preeclampsia continues to vex anesthesiologists and obstetricians. Research is coming closer to elucidating its origin. The importance of angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors has been emphasized. These factors also provide a means to predict individuals who will develop the disease. Further study in this area for laboratory criteria is necessary. Although these results of testing are important, determining how they should be applied is more critical. Anesthetic management is also evolving. Once considered absolutely contraindicated, spinal anesthesia has proven to be a reliable technique in women who have preeclampsia without a higher incidence of hypotension. Also, the lowest acceptable platelet count for the performance of neuraxial block will depend on the clinical situation. A patient should not be denied epidural anesthesia based on an isolated number without considering the larger clinical picture.