RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess obstetrical outcomes in a sample of nulliparous gestations with preeclampsia, as compared to gestations without preeclampsia, attended in the Enrique C. Sotomayor Hospital of Guayaquil, Ecuador. METHOD: This was a comparative study of maternal and perinatal outcome data of gestations with late onset preeclampsia (n=150; gestational age=36.7±3.3 weeks) with that of normal gestations (n=150; gestational age 38.7±1.7 weeks). RESULTS: Almost three-quarters (73.3%) of preeclampsia cases were defined as severe. Compared to normal gestations, preeclampsia cases had higher anthropometric indices (neck and mid-arm circumference) and had more oligohydramnios, cesarean sections, transfusions, distressed fetuses, and adverse perinatal outcomes such as, lower Apgar scores at birth, and more preterm births, lower birth weight and small for gestational age infants. CONCLUSION: Gestations with preeclampsia had a negative impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes compared to gestations without preeclampsia.