What cardinal diagnostic feature of preeclampsia is influenced by systemic maternal endothelial dysfunction?

The cardinal diagnostic feature of preeclampsia influenced by systemic maternal endothelial dysfunction is visual disturbance. In preeclampsia, endothelial dysfunction leads to a cascade of changes in the maternal vasculature, including increased vascular permeability and altered blood flow dynamics. This can result in symptoms such as visual disturbances, which may manifest as blurred vision, photophobia, or even scotomas.

These visual changes are associated with the hypertensive state and reduced perfusion to the retina or the brain, reflecting the underlying pathology of preeclampsia. Understanding this connection helps to identify preeclampsia early and manage it effectively, as visual disturbances can indicate severe disease and potentially precede more serious complications.

Other symptoms and signs might occur in preeclampsia, but they do not directly relate to endothelial dysfunction in the same way visual disturbances do. For example, an increased heart rate may occur due to stress or pain but does not indicate systemic endothelial changes specifically linked to preeclampsia. Elevated temperature could indicate infection or another condition and is not a direct marker of the endothelial dysfunction characteristic of preeclampsia. Decreased fetal movement may suggest fetal distress but is not a diagnostic feature linked to maternal endothelial dysfunction.