In pregnancy, preeclampsia is defined as hypertension with what accompanying feature?

• A. Proteinuria
• B. Hyperglycemia
• C. Hypotension
• D. Hypokalemia

Answer: (A)

New-onset high blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation accompanied by protein in the urine signals preeclampsia. The presence of proteinuria indicates renal involvement from placental dysfunction and maternal endothelial injury, which is the defining paired feature with hypertension in this condition. Proteinuria is typically defined as ≥300 mg of protein in 24 hours, or a protein/creatinine ratio ≥0.3, or a positive urine dipstick corroborated by confirmatory testing.

Hyperglycemia points toward gestational diabetes rather than preeclampsia. Hypotension is not characteristic of preeclampsia, and hypokalemia is unrelated to the diagnostic criteria. Thus, proteinuria best completes the diagnosis alongside hypertension.