Preeclampsia is characterized by which of the following?

• A. Low blood pressure and edema
• B. Proteinuria alone
• C. High blood pressure, swelling, severe headaches, visual changes
• D. Normal blood pressure with no symptoms

Answer: (C)

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that develops after 20 weeks and shows signs of organ involvement. The best choice reflects that pattern: high blood pressure along with swelling and neurologic symptoms such as severe headaches and visual changes indicate central nervous system involvement and possible progression to severe features. Edema is common in pregnancy and can occur with normal blood pressure, so it isn’t by itself diagnostic. Proteinuria used to be required for diagnosis, but the key here is the combination of hypertension with end-organ symptoms. Normal blood pressure with no symptoms obviously doesn’t fit preeclampsia.