5th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON KHAZAR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
TREATMENT APPROACHES FOR PREECLAMPSIA AND CURRENT CLINICAL RESEARCH
Preeclampsia, a maternal hypertensive disorder, is characterized by elevated blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy, often accompanied by impaired renal and hepatic function, as well as neurological and hematological disturbances. It can develop before, during, or after delivery, with a global incidence rate of 2–8%, making it a leading cause of fetal mortality and morbidity. It is estimated that 50,000 women worldwide die annually due to preeclampsia. In Turkey, maternal deaths caused by preeclampsia and eclampsia rank second after hemorrhage among direct causes of maternal mortality. The reported rates were 18.4% in 2005, 13.6% in 2014, and 15.5% between 2012 and 2015.The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is not yet fully understood. Abnormalities in spiral artery remodeling, alterations in the synthesis and release of angiogenic factors, inflammation, oxidative stress, and disturbances in nitric oxide metabolism have been reported as contributing factors. Pathophysiological changes occur before the onset of symptoms, and as such, there is no definitive prophylactic treatment available. Most therapies aim to mitigate the effects of the inflammatory cascade that dominates the later stages of preeclampsia. Current treatment guidelines recommend the prophylactic use of aspirin and antihypertensive agents, primarily methyldopa, for managing hypertension. However, neither prophylactic nor antihypertensive treatments are sufficient to achieve effective therapeutic outcomes in preeclampsia. The definitive treatment for the condition is delivery, which involves the removal of the placenta from the body. While delivery may be a feasible option for late-onset preeclampsia (>37 weeks), it is associated with significant health risks for the neonate in cases of early-onset preeclampsia (<37 weeks). The present study reviewed clinical trials on preeclampsia treatment conducted between 2000 and 2024 using the keywords “preeclampsia,” “drug treatment,” and “clinical trial” in the ClinicalTrials® and PubMed® databases. A total of 29 clinical studies were identified, of which the results of only 18 were accessible. The literature review revealed that the therapeutic effects of 14 different agents were investigated in phase trials, with the majority of studies focusing on statins (antihyperlipidemic agents), metformin (an antidiabetic agent), and tadalafil (used for erectile dysfunction). Given that the only definitive treatment for preeclampsia is delivery and there is no effective treatment or prophylactic option available, conducting preclinical and clinical research is of critical importance.
