Expectant management of severe preterm preeclampsia: a comparison of maternal and fetal indications for delivery

Objective: To examine the delivery indication (maternal or fetal) for patients with preterm preeclampsia and assess whether disease characteristics at presentation are predictive of delivery indication.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia (Mercy Hospital for Women). We assessed indication for delivery for participants presenting with preeclampsia from 23⁺⁰ to 32⁺⁶ weeks gestation. We compared baseline disease characteristics, disease features at delivery and postnatal outcomes between those delivered for maternal or fetal indications, or for both maternal and fetal indications.

Results: Two hundred sixty six participants presented with preterm preeclampsia and 108 were eligible for inclusion in our study. More participants were delivered for maternal indications at 65.7% compared to those requiring delivery on fetal grounds at 19.4% or for both indications at 14.8% (p?Conclusion: Participants with preterm preeclampsia were predominantly delivered due to maternal disease progression compared to fetal compromise.