Kaiser Permanente Participates in National Trial to Prevent Common Pregnancy Complication

Preeclampsia, a condition that usually occurs late in pregnancy, can cause sudden headaches, swelling, pain, nausea, high blood pressure and in rare cases, seizure and death. In 2009 the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research participated in the CAPPS study, which tested high doses of Vitamins C and E to prevent preeclampsia in low-risk pregnant women. This video recounts the devastating effects that preeclampsia can have on the mother and baby and describes the trial to try and prevent the condition. Wendy Smith, MD, MPH, from the Northwest Permanente Medical Group says the study showed that vitamins do not prevent preeclampsia. Even though the trial did not turn out as researchers had hoped it provided valuable information about this condition which affects 5-8 percent of pregnancies.

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• Kaiser Permanente
• preeclampsia
• health research
• pregnancy
• vitamins