Table 2.

Alterations in brain volume, cerebral hemodynamics, white matter integrity, and electrophysiological profile observed in maternal brains after a preeclamptic index pregnancy. Normal pregnancy is associated with a reduction in both gray and matter volumes, and an enlargement of the ventricular spaces, with these changes reversing postpartum. However, in preeclampsia this atrophy in brain volume and expansion of the ventricles can persist for decades. In moderate to severe case of PE, cerebrovascular autoregulation is lost, resulting in increased BBB permeability, brain water content, and an exacerbated risk of vasogenic edema. The pattern and distribution pattern of white matter lesions correlate to neurological outcome. The occipital lobe, a region of interest in visual disturbances, exhibits electrophysiological changes as a result of preeclampsia.

CNS Component		Healthy Pregnancy	Preeclampsia
Brain Volume	Gray Matter	Atrophy reverses postpartum	Atrophy persists decades after index pregnancy
	White Matter
	Ventricular Spaces	Expansion reverses postpartum	Enlarged ventricles persist decades after index pregnancy
Cerebral Hemodynamics	Cerebrovascular Autoregulation	---	Decreased
	Cerebral Perfusion Pressure	---	Increased
	BBB Permeability	---
	Brain Water Content	---
	Risk of Vasogenic Edema	---
White Matter Lesions (WMLs)	WML Distribution Pattern	---	Strong correlation to neurological outcome
	Sympathetic Innervation	---	Regions with meager innervation (e.g., occipital lobe) are more susceptible to WMLs
Electrophysiology	EEG	---	Diffuse and focal slowing of delta and theta waves in occipital lobe