Final answer:
Preeclampsia can be classified into mild and severe forms based on specific criteria. Mild preeclampsia is characterized by elevated blood pressure and proteinuria, while severe preeclampsia involves higher blood pressure and additional complications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs, typically the liver and kidneys, that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation. It can be classified into mild and severe forms based on certain criteria.
Mild preeclampsia is diagnosed when the blood pressure is consistently elevated (systolic blood pressure between 140-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure between 90-109 mmHg) along with the presence of proteinuria (excess protein in the urine).
Severe preeclampsia is diagnosed when the blood pressure is consistently higher (systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 110 mmHg or higher) along with other complications such as severe headache, visual disturbances, liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, or fetal growth restriction.