Hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancies complicated by hypertension require a well-formulated management plan. Women with chronic hypertension should be evaluated prior to pregnancy. At onset of pregnancy, they should be classified into low-risk and high-risk groups. The majority of pregnant women identified as low-risk hypertensives will have good perinatal outcome without the use of antihypertensive drugs. In general, antihypertensive medications should be reserved for those considered as having high-risk hypertension. In either case, all these women should have close follow-up of maternal and fetal conditions throughout pregnancy. All women with diagnosed preeclampsia should be hospitalized at the time of diagnosis for evaluation of maternal and fetal well-being. Subsequent management will then depend on gestational age and the severity of the disease process. An individualized management plan and a referral to a tertiary care center will improve maternal and perinatal outcome in those women who are remote from term and in those with the HELLP syndrome.