Causes

The causes of gestation are not clearly understood. Various causes are discussed in expert committees. On the one hand, hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to the development of gestosis.

Also the change of the immune system can contribute to the development. Furthermore, a genetic connection is being considered. Often, however, it is an interplay of all these factors mentioned and possibly also additional factors (not yet known at present) which lead to the development of a gestosis.

How dangerous can this become?

In the worst cases of gestation, eclampsia or a so-called HELLP syndrome can develop. Eclampsia is characterized by pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-induced blood pressure increase and increased protein excretion) and the simultaneous occurrence of seizures. In the beginning, patients usually have headaches, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting.

Since seizures endanger the health of the unborn child and mother, seizures should be prevented with medication, especially if there are signs of preeclapmsia. The second major complication of gestation is HELLP syndrome.This causes small blood clots to form which block the smallest blood vessels in the body. It also causes the red blood cells to break down and the amount of platelets in the blood to decrease.

As a result, liver damage occurs. HELLP syndrome often occurs with upper abdominal pain and relatively unspecific complaints such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. As life-threatening complications for mother and child can occur in both HELLP syndrome and eclampsia, drug therapy and immediate delivery of the child is vital.

Duration and prognosis

The cause of the gestosis is the pregnancy-related increase in blood pressure. As a result, only the termination of the pregnancy (e.g. birth, caesarean section) can completely heal a gestosis (causal therapy). Otherwise, the gestosis is treated by general measures such as stress reduction or drug therapy that attempts to prevent the progression of a gestosis or reduces the risk of preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome. Therefore, it can be said that the duration of a gestation corresponds to the duration of pregnancy.