Preeclampsia and diabetes mellitus

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of recent research on the relationship between preeclampsia and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. Methodology: A structured search for literary sources in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases using keywords, followed by a selection of papers based on solid methodology. Results: Preeclampsia is a serious condition, which complicates 2–7% of pregnancies. It causes maternal complications (organ dysfunction) and fetal complications (pathological haemodynamic parameters of the uteroplacental unit and fetal growth restriction). Pregnant women with pregestational diabetes have a 2- and 4-times higher risk of developing preeclampsia and the ones with gestational diabetes have 1.3-times higher risk. The main identified risk factors are inadequate compensation of diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and the duration of diabetes. To minimalize the risk of developing preeclampsia, a composite screening has been implemented. With a positive result a preventive use of acetylsalicylic acid from at the latest 16 and up until the 36th week is advised. Preeclampsia is also a risk factor for developing diabetes mellitus and other cardiovascular diseases later in life. For that reason, a long-term dispensary of women who had preeclampsia in pregnancy is recommended. Key words: preeclampsia – proteinuria – pregestational diabetes mellitus – gestational diabetes mellitus – uteroplacental insufficiency – acetylsalicylic acid – late complications of preeclampsia