Preeclampsia is defined as:

• A. A pregnancy complication where the mother develops hypertension.
• B. Low blood pressure with edema.
• C. Normal pregnancy with no symptoms.
• D. Onset of diabetes.

Answer: (A)

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that develops after about 20 weeks of gestation and is defined by new-onset high blood pressure, often with proteinuria or signs of end-organ dysfunction. This makes the statement that describes the pregnancy complication where the mother develops hypertension the best choice, because it captures the key abnormality that defines preeclampsia. The other statements don’t fit: low blood pressure with edema isn’t how preeclampsia presents; a normal pregnancy with no symptoms isn’t a complication; and diabetes is a different condition altogether.