Current Pediatric Research

Background: Preeclampsia is a public health problem throughout the world, responsible for significant maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The objective of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary profile of newborns born to preeclamptic mothers and to identify their risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Method: Our study was retrospective, over a period of six months from July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. We included 95 newborns monitored at the neonatology department of the maternity and neonatology center of Tunis born to preeclamptic mothers. Results: The prevalence of preeclampsia was 2.35% with severe and moderate prevalence being respectively 1.73% and 0.62%. The mean gestational birth age was 35.02 ± 3.15 weeks with 64.2% cases of prematurity. Intrauterine growth restriction was noted in 41% cases. Neonatal intensive care unit admissions were noted in 49.5% cases. The most frequent neonatal morbidities were neonatal respiratory distress, neonatal thrombocytopenia and hypocalcemia respectively registered in 22.1%, 25.3% and 11.6% cases. In-hospital mortality rate was 11.6% with a prematurity noted in 81.8% cases of death. In multivariate analysis, preeclampsia complicated by Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count syndrome; HELLP (p=0.036), neonatal hypocalcemia (p=0.007) and newborn ventilation by Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) (p=0.011) were identified as major risk factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality for newborns of preeclamptic mothers. Conclusion: Strengthening antenatal care would allow an early screening of women with a high risk of preeclampsia and prevent the occurrence of subsequent complications.

Author(s): Ayari F*, Sdiri Y, Cherifi E, Belhaj Ammar W, Chourou H, Kacem S, Achour R

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