Hypertension in pregnancy

Koo, Yu Jin; Lee, Dae Hyung

Abstract

Hypertension is the most common medical disorder encountered in pregnancy, complicating 5% to 10% of all pregnancies. It is a major cause of maternal, fetal and newborn morbidity and mortality, increasing the risk of cerebrovascular events, organ failure and placenta abruptio in mothers and the risk of intrauterine growth restriction, prematurity and intrauterine death in fetuses. There are four types of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia syndrome, chronic hypertension of any etiology, and Preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension. The decision to treat hypertension in pregnancy should consider the benefit-harm balance for both mother and fetus, and depends on gestational age, blood pressure levels, and presence of preeclampsia. As termination of pregnancy is the only cure for preeclampsia, there is general agreement that delivery rather than observation is suggested in women with severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, or mild hypertension at term. However, it is not clear whether women with mild hypertension at near term can be managed expectantly as well as whether antihypertensive therapy for mild to moderate hypertension should be initiated. In 2013, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists provided evidence-based recommendations for the management of patients with hypertension during and after pregnancy, but it concluded that the final decision should be individualized and made by the health care provider and patient in all instances. Therefore, well-designed large trials are needed to clarify the indication for antihypertensive use and the selected population who would benefit from expectant management for mild to moderate hypertension at preterm.