US Medical Term · maternity
Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia
What it means
Preeclampsia is high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. MedlinePlus describes it as a sudden increase in blood pressure that usually happens in the last trimester; the signs may include protein in the urine and very high blood pressure, and it can be serious or even life-threatening for both mother and baby. Other symptoms can include swelling in the face and hands, a headache that does not go away, and vision problems. If preeclampsia becomes severe enough to affect brain function and causes seizures or a coma, it is called eclampsia. In rare cases symptoms do not start until after delivery, which is called postpartum preeclampsia. MedlinePlus says to contact a provider right away if symptoms appear.
Preeclampsia in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Preeclampsia
- Gender and article
- feminine: la preeclampsia
- Pronunciation
- preh-eh-KLAHMP-syah
Preeclampsia is the word used by MedlinePlus en español and by the RAE dictionary, and in Spanish it is feminine: la preeclampsia. The RAE marks it "f. Med." and defines it as a complex syndrome that occurs during pregnancy, characterized by hypertension, edema and excess protein in the urine. The MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia describes it as high blood pressure with signs of liver or kidney damage after week 20 of pregnancy, and lists toxemia among the alternative names of its article.
Several related words appear on the Spanish pages. Eclampsia is the name used when preeclampsia becomes severe enough to affect brain function and cause convulsiones or coma. Preeclampsia posparto is preeclampsia whose symptoms start after delivery. The MedlinePlus en español topic page presents hipertensión gestacional as a separate type: high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, in general with no other symptom. Protein in the urine is proteinuria, swelling is hinchazón or edema, and high blood pressure is presión arterial alta or hipertensión.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | Your blood pressure is high today, and there is protein in your urine. | Hoy tiene la presión arterial alta y hay proteína en la orina. |
| Patient | Could it be preeclampsia? I am 32 weeks pregnant. | ¿Podría ser preeclampsia? Tengo 32 semanas de embarazo. |
| Clinician | Have you had a headache that does not go away, or blurred vision? | ¿Ha tenido un dolor de cabeza que no se le quita, o visión borrosa? |
| Patient | My face and hands have been swollen since yesterday. | Tengo la cara y las manos hinchadas desde ayer. |
| Patient | I had preeclampsia in my last pregnancy. | Tuve preeclampsia en mi embarazo anterior. |
| Clinician | We are going to check your blood pressure and your urine at every prenatal visit. | Vamos a revisarle la presión arterial y la orina en cada visita prenatal. |
| Clinician | If you notice any of these symptoms, contact us right away. | Si nota alguno de estos síntomas, comuníquese con nosotros de inmediato. |
| Patient | What is the difference between preeclampsia and eclampsia? | ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la preeclampsia y la eclampsia? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Preeclampsia |
| Spanish (Español) | Preeclampsia |
| Chinese (中文) | 子癇前症 |
| Korean (한국어) | 자간전증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tiền sản giật |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Preeklampsia |
| Portuguese (Português) | Pré-eclâmpsia |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ครรภ์เป็นพิษ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 子癇前症 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: O14 → Pre-eclampsiaRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Reproductive health and pregnancy
All terms in this area: Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
Sources
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Presión arterial alta en el embarazo — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Preeclampsia — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, National Library of Medicine
- Preeclampsia — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- preeclampsia — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026