Association of pre-eclampsia with or without superimposed chronic hypertension in pregnant women with the risk of congenital abnormalities in their offspring: a population-based case–control study
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 06/12/2012

Banhidy F et al. – Pre–eclampsia (PE) in pregnant women was not associated with a higher risk of any congenital abnormalities in their offspring, but PE+SCH was associated with a higher risk of renal dysgenesis, esophageal atresia/stenosis and rectal/anal stenosis. These findings need confirmation in other studies.

• A population–based case–control study using the Hungarian Case–Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities data set (1980–1996), including 22,843 cases with congenital abnormalities and 38,151 matched controls without any congenital abnormalities.
• The incidence of PE and PE+SCH was compared in women who had offspring with congenital abnormalities (cases) and women who had offspring without any congenital abnormalities (controls).

• The incidence of PE was examined in 585 cases and 1017 controls, and the incidence of PE+SCH was examined in 154 cases and 269 controls.
• None of the 25 studied types of congenital abnormality was found to be more likely among the offspring of women with PE.
• However, the risks of renal dysgenesis [odds ratio (OR) 4.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–12.8], esophageal atresia/stenosis (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.8–12.2) and rectal/anal stenosis (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.6–8.5) were higher in the offspring of pregnant women with PE+SCH.