Abstract
Background Preeclampsia is a multiple organ dysfunction during pregnancy, including hepatic, renal, and neurological dysfunction, and is defined as hypertension and proteinuria occurring after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Clinical features seen in preeclampsia are due to relatively poorly perfused placenta and maternal endothelial dysfunction. Some studies have found that preeclampsia may cause acute pancreatitis due to microvascular abnormalities and visceral ischemia. This retrospective cohort study used the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Databases (NHIRD) to study the relationship between preeclampsia and the risk of pancreatitis. Methods In total, 606,538 pregnant women were selected from the NHIRD between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2010. They were divided into a preeclampsia cohort (n = 485,211) and a nonpreeclampsia cohort (n = 121,327). After adjusting for comorbidities that may induce pancreatitis, we analyzed and compared the incidence of pancreatitis in the two cohorts. Results The overall incidence of pancreatitis in the preeclampsia cohort was significantly higher than that in the control cohort (4.29 vs. 2.33 per 10,000 person-years). The adjusted HR of developing pancreatitis increased 1.68-fold (95% CI: 1.19-2.36) in the preeclampsia cohort. In addition, pregnant women with preeclampsia without comorbidities had a significantly high risk of pancreatitis (aHR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.27-2.63). The combined effect of preeclampsia and alcohol-related diseases resulted in the highest risk of pancreatitis (aHR = 43.4, 95% CI: 6.06-311.3). Conclusion Compared with patients without preeclampsia, the risk of pancreatitis in patients with preeclampsia is significantly increased after adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. The risk of pancreatitis is greatly increased when preeclampsia is accompanied by alcohol-related diseases, hepatitis C, gallstones, diabetes, or age of 26–35 years. Early identification and effective control of preeclampsia and the associated comorbidities can reduce the risk of pancreatitis and the associated morbidity and mortality.
Highlights
Preeclampsia is defined as the presence of de novo hypertension (>140 mmHg systolic or >90 mmHg diastolic) after 20 weeks of gestation combined with proteinuria or other maternal organ dysfunction [1,2,3]
We evaluated the risk of pancreatitis for preeclampsia patients compared with the comparison cohort by using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and presented by hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs)
The eligible study participants consisted of 17 263 patients in the preeclampsia cohort and 69 052 individuals in the nonpreeclampsia cohort
Summary
Preeclampsia is defined as the presence of de novo hypertension (>140 mmHg systolic or >90 mmHg diastolic) after 20 weeks of gestation combined with proteinuria or other maternal organ dysfunction (renal, hepatic, and neurologic diseases) [1,2,3]. It occurs in 3%-5% of pregnancies worldwide [4]. Gastroenterology Research and Practice to poorly perfused placenta and maternal endothelial dysfunction [7] These changes make preeclampsia a multiorgan syndrome dysfunction, with increased risks of various disorders, including chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease, thromboembolism, hypothyroidism, and even memory impairment [8]. Identification and effective control of preeclampsia and the associated comorbidities can reduce the risk of pancreatitis and the associated morbidity and mortality
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
