What are my chances??

[stacyc]

I was 28 when i had my twin girls (29 almost 30 :() born at 24 weeks due too severe preeclampsia and HELLP. Protein by the time of delivery was 6900. My girls weighed 1.8lbs and 15ozs and spent 4mths in the NICU and are now 13lbs and doing pretty good but i was wondering, if i was to get PG again, does anyone know what my chances of getting PE again? Thanks

Olivia & Elizabeth
24weekers
1/27/03

[akemt]

Stacy,

Here's a link you should read about chances of recurrance:

Will it happen again? Experts weigh in:
www.preeclampsia.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=331

While it is very unlikely (though possible) to get HELLP again, it is more likely that you will have PE or PIH in a subsequent pregnancy because you had HELLP before. I would suggest seeing a perinatologist/MFM specialist before your next pregnancy.


Catherine (22)
DH Britton (27)
Emma Margaret (03/02/03) 37 weeks from PIH & oligo
Baby #2 due August 11, 2004

[lisac]

Hi Stacy,
There is contradictory info regarding recurrence rates. I got severe PE at 23 wks, and two perinatologists concur that my risk is 20% that I'll get it again. There have been women here who got it very early, 23/24 wks and never got it a second time. Others have had it over and over again. Remember that the risk of recurrence doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it that early again. I know how alarming it can be for early birds like us to hear that "the earlier you got it the greater your chance of getting it again." Also, a risk factor is carrying twins, so maybe that was factor in your case.
Lisa

[laura]

great points, Lisa![:)]

Laura-28
DH Jack-30
Allie 5-13-98 (35 weeks-pre-e)
Baby Camille 4-17-03 (36 weeks- htn and oligo)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[lisac]

Here's a much better link: http://www.bsc.gwu.edu/mfmu/pubs/069.pdf

I don't know how to edit my previous post!

[laura]

I can help [:)] (wow, I get to be a real moderator today!)

In the future if you need to edit, there's a row of icons next to the date and time- the one with the pencil allows you to edit.

Just for info's sake- I tend to lean towards the statistics provided by our medical board (for obvious reasons[:)]) but also, some of the replies provided there are actually researchers describing their own findings. Most of them are not just experts here for the PF, but points of reference for all others in the field. The experts' experts, if you get my drift.

Laura-28
DH Jack-30
Allie 5-13-98 (35 weeks-pre-e)
Baby Camille 4-17-03 (36 weeks- htn and oligo)
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[ileana]

Stacy,

I really like to think that in your case the twin pregnancy was the problem... I think in a single pregnancy you'd have much better chances than the rest of us.
I read a book written by a father, they had 2 twins one was 400g one 650g delivered at 24w, the small one died, the other one is ok, v. mild cerebral palsy. In their second pregnancy they had no problem at all.

I really think this is a good question for the Ask the Experts.

Good luck!

Ileana 33
Angel stillborn 24w p-e 2/17/03

[maxs mom]

Stacy,
Wow your girls were born just one week after my son. He was a 25 wkr and weighed 1lb. 3 oz. He is doing great now. (My protein was 7000, what a coincedence)

As for reoccurence, I am going through these questions now too. The first thing to do is go to your peri (high risk OB) Assuming you had one deliver you last time. If not, get one. You need to be followed closely in future pregnancies because you had PE so early. Anyway, I just went to my Peri and they took a bunch of blood and are currently running tests. This will determine if I have any underlying disorders like a blood clotting disorder, or lupus, etc. My Peri told me I had a greater than 25% chance of getting PE again if the tests showed normal. If something is wrong, they will treat it during pregnancy, so I think my chances improve. The reason he gave me a greater than 25% chance of reoccurence, is honestly, they just can't tell you. The good news is with my next PG (planned for summer) I will be followed closely and treated earlier if PE signs show up. Last PG I had PE for a week without any diagnosis (couldn't get in to OB) so that is probably why I delivered so early, but the doctors never know for sure. Also, my Peri said he definitely does not want me to carry multiples, because risk of reoccurence increases.

Let us know if you have any more questions. You have definitely come to the right spot. There are a ton of infomative and caring people on this site!

Kara (33)
DH, John (35)
Max, 1/20/03, 25 wks, 534g. (IUGR), severe PE
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mightymax/

[lisac]

Thanks for the edit, Laura! I'm on a different computer, so no pencil appears on my end. Hhhmmm.

I agree that it's best to use studies from the advisors to the PE Foundation. I saw a specialist who advises the foundation and he quoted 20% for my chance of recurrence.
Sometimes I get concerned because the link in the Ask the Experts section is used often when women have the recurrence question (I know those two docs are highly regarded), and I just hope that women know that there are other advisors to the foundation (also respected docs) that use a slightly better statistic--20%. Sorry to go on about this, but 20% to 60% is such a huge range and I would like people to know both ends of that spectrum. :)
Lisa

[ileana]

My hubby likes to know the percentages as well, I hate them.

I had a doctor tell me a week that he hopes my next baby will get to and that was much more useful. I don't know that a 60% or a 20% tells much, but a 33w vs. 37w has so much more information.




Ileana 33
Angel stillborn 24w p-e 2/17/03