Management of Preeclampsia Remote from Term

Introduction

Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical complication of pregnancy, affecting 5 - 10 % of all pregnancies. Approximately 30 % of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are due to chronic hypertension and 70 % are due to gestational hypertension-preeclampsia. The spectrum of disease ranges from mildly elevated blood pressures with minimal clinical significance to severe hypertension and multi-organ dysfunction. Understanding the disease process and the impact of hypertensive disorders on pregnancy is of the utmost importance, as these disorders remain a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Maternal complications include: abruptio placentae, disseminated intravascular coagulation, eclampsia, renal failure, liver failure or hemorrhage, hypertensive encephalopathy, pulmonary edema, and death. Fetal neonatal complications include: intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, hypoxia/acidosis, neurologic injury, and death.

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