Which statement best describes preeclampsia?

• A. A chronic condition present before conception.
• B. A pregnancy-specific condition that develops after 20 weeks of gestation and is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.
• C. An infection acquired during labor that resolves after delivery.
• D. A normal variant of late pregnancy with no organ involvement.

Answer: (B)

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder that begins after 20 weeks of gestation and is defined by new-onset hypertension along with protein in the urine. This combination reflects abnormal placental development and systemic changes affecting multiple organs. It’s distinct from preexisting chronic hypertension (which is present before pregnancy), infections during labor, or a normal late-pregnancy variation that wouldn't involve this combination of elevated blood pressure and proteinuria. The key ideas are the timing (after 20 weeks) and the pregnancy-specific onset of hypertension with proteinuria.