Severe preeclampsia in a non-proteinuric patient

Abstract

We present a 57year old now Para 2+0 lady who conceived through assisted reproductive technology and subsequently presented to us at 12weeks of gestation for antenatal care. Her antenatal period was uneventful until the 32nd week of gestation when she suddenly developed hypertension without any proteinuria. On admission, renal and liver function tests were found to be grossly deranged. She was stabilized with anti-hypertensives and given a course of steroids for fetal lung maturity. She subsequently had an emergency lower segment caesarean section at 33 weeks of gestation and was delivered of a live male baby weighing 1.8 kilograms. A high index of suspicion for pre-eclampsia is very important in the management of patients with hypertension in pregnancy, even in the absence of proteinuria.