Introduction:

preeclampsia is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in Mexico. Their clinical features are diverse and some are infrequent, for example, ascites development. When ascites occurs, it might cause adverse outcomes in pregnancy. Dysphagia due to ascites in preeclampsia has been seldom described.

Objective:

to report a case of dysphagia as the main symptom that led to seek medical assistance in a patient with abdominal ascites due to preeclampsia with severe features. We performed a review of the pathogenesis of ascites during pregnancy and the possible relation with dysphagia.

Clinical case:

29 years old female with 36 weeks of pregnancy, diagnosed one week before with preeclampsia with severe features, followed in outer consultation, admitted to hospitalization for dysphagia. Pregnancy was resolved surgically, 800 cm3 of ascites were reported. Dysphagia resolved few hours after surgical delivery.

Conclusions:

the surveillance of obstetric patients with preeclampsia must be very meticulous. Physicians in charge of these patients must know uncommon features of this disease (such as ascites development) in order to achieve an opportune diagnosis and treatment.