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Pravastatin for Preeclampsia Prevention and Treatment

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Book cover Preeclampsia

Part of the book series: Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics ((CGO))

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Abstract

Preeclampsia is a significant, multifactorial, multiorgan disease affecting 5–8% of all pregnancies and leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality. Despite improvements in the diagnosis, there is no effective method of prevention and treatment. While studies in women are of critical importance, investigation of pathological mechanisms in pregnant women is necessarily limited and the ability to establish cause and effect relationships, difficult. Mouse models were invaluable tools in the identification of pravastatin as a potential treatment to prevent pregnancy complications associated with placental dysfunction such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

Numerous epidemiological studies provided robust evidence demonstrating that pravastatin exposure during pregnancy does not affect fetal development. Several pilot studies suggest that pravastatin may be a good option to prevent and treat preeclampsia in women. A randomized clinical trial is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of pravastatin to treat preeclampsia.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Women Health, King’s College, London, United Kingdom

    Guillermina Girardi Ph.D.

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  1. Guillermina Girardi Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Guillermina Girardi Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

    Shigeru Saito

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Girardi, G. (2018). Pravastatin for Preeclampsia Prevention and Treatment. In: Saito, S. (eds) Preeclampsia. Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5891-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5891-2_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-5890-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-5891-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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