Preeclampsia & Autoimmune Disease

 A new study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology (aka the “Green Journal”) explored the long-term health effects of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH)—which includes conditions like gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia—on more than 289,000 U.S. women.

Researchers followed these women for up to 18 years postpartum, comparing those who experienced hypertensive complications during pregnancy to those who didn’t. What they discovered is striking:

• Women who had any form of pregnancy-related high blood pressure had a notably higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases later in life.
  
• The autoimmune conditions linked to these pregnancy complications include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and autoimmune thyroid disorders.
  
• The more severe the hypertension, the higher the future autoimmune risk. For example, women with eclampsia (a severe form of preeclampsia involving seizures) had the highest risk increases across multiple autoimmune categories.
  
• This association was consistent across age groups, meaning even younger women who experienced PIH are at risk years later.
  
  

💡 Why Does It Matter?
This research is powerful validation of something we’ve long suspected: pregnancy is a window into your future health.

What happens during those nine months doesn’t just impact your baby—it can also reveal your body’s underlying vulnerabilities. In the case of PIH, it may point to a heightened immune response or systemic inflammation that doesn’t just resolve after delivery.

Here’s why this matters for you or someone you love:

• If you’ve had gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or eclampsia, your care shouldn’t stop at delivery. These are early warning signs, not isolated events.
  
• You may benefit from more personalized long-term care, especially if you notice autoimmune-related symptoms down the line—things like fatigue, joint pain, digestive changes, skin rashes, or thyroid issues.
  
• It’s time to shift how we think about maternal health—from a short-term focus to a lifelong wellness strategy.
  

As your physician and partner in wellness, I want you to feel informed, empowered, and supported. If you’ve experienced PIH or simply want to get ahead of your long-term health, let’s start a conversation.

Together, we can craft a plan that helps you feel strong, safe, and supported for the decades ahead.