Gestational weight gain in Japanese women with preeclampsia

Abstract

Aim: Weight gain during the 2–4 weeks before the onset of preeclampsia was assessed to examine the effects of edema on weight gain in women with preeclampsia.

Methods: Weight gain up to 4 weeks, from 2–4 weeks, and from 2 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia (preeclampsia group; n=77) was retrospectively examined. Weight gain during the same period of gestational age in women with the same age, parity, height, and weight at prepregnancy (control group; n=77) was also examined. The χ² test was used to examine categorical variables.

Results: Average weight gain up to 4 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia did not differ from that of subjects with the same period of gestational age in the control group (6.1±2.0 vs. 6.5±2.6 kg, P=0.25). However, average weight gain from 4 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia was significantly greater than that of subjects with the same gestational age in the control group (weight gain from 2–4 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia: 0.9±0.4 vs. 1.6±0.8 kg, P<0.01; weight gain from 2 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia: 0.8±0.4 vs. 2.1±1.5 kg, P<0.01). The percentage of women with systemic edema in the preeclampsia group was significantly higher than that in the control group (53 vs. 4%, P<0.01). In the preeclampsia group, average weight gain from 2 weeks before the diagnosis of preeclampsia in women with systemic edema was significantly higher than that in women without general edema (3.0±1.1 vs. 1.1±0.5 kg, P<0.01).

Conclusion: Maternal weight gain associated with preeclampsia may be due to systemic edema that precedes the onset of preeclampsia.