[The influence of gestational edema on maternal and perinatal outcome].

In order to detect the influence of edema on maternal and perinatal outcome, 1,326 records of pregnant women without vascular nor renal diseases who were delivered of single infants were reviewed. The results were as follows. 1. Edema was observed in 214 of 1,326 subjects (16%). 2. In subjects with edema, 86% in primipara and 97% in multipara had no additional signs of preeclampsia subsequently during pregnancy and postpartum. 3. In thirteen subjects with edema before 28 weeks of gestation, five subjects (38.5%) had additional signs of preeclampsia subsequently and four developed severe preeclampsia. In 201 subjects with edema after 28 weeks of gestation, fourteen subjects (7%) had additional signs of preeclampsia subsequently and only one woman developed severe preeclampsia. 4. Mean birth weights in subjects with edema were significantly higher than that in subjects without edema in primipara. But, among the other parameters, no significant difference was found. These results indicate that edema by itself does not affect the maternal and perinatal outcome. However, the onset of edema before 28 weeks of gestation may be a useful sign to predict the onset of hypertension and proteinuria.