Hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract 

Hypertension is a common complication of pregnancy and remains a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Hypertensive disorders vary from mild gestational hypertension to severe pre-eclampsia, which remains one of the leading causes of maternal death in the UK. Although there have been major advances in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease in recent years, interventions to prevent hypertensive disorders in pregnancy have had disappointing results. Due to their unpredictable nature and potential poor outcomes, patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy warrant cautious care with consultant involvement to optimise both maternal and foetal outcomes.

Keywords: eclampsia, hypertension, pregnancy, pre-eclampsia