Gestational Hypertension
Hypertension is the most common medical disorder in pregnancy, complicating one in ten pregnancies. Treatment of severely increased blood pressure is widely recommended to reduce the risk for maternal complications - Thomas Easterling MD
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Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: A Practice Bulletin from ACOG
Gestational hypertension is diagnosed in patients with the hypertension criteria for preeclampsia without the proteinuria or severe features. Up to 50% of women diagnosed with gestational hypertension will develop preeclampsia. Gestational hypertension with severe range blood pressures should be managed in the same way as preeclampsia with severe features because of similar risk.
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Gestational hypertension
Gestational hypertension is defined by BP readings of ≥140/90 mmHg on two occasions at least 4 hours apart during pregnancy after 20 weeks’ gestation in a previously normotensive patient, without the presence of proteinuria (<300 mg in 24 hours) or other clinical features suggestive of of preeclampsia (thrombocytopenia, impaired renal or kidney function, pulmonary edema, or new-onset headache)
Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia: A Practice Bulletin from ACOG
Low-dose aspirin therapy should be started between 12 and 28 weeks' gestation for patients with one high risk factor or two moderate risk factors for preeclampsia.
Gestational Hypertension: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)
Gestational Hypertension also referred to as Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension (PIH) is a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. Gestational Hypertension can lead to a serious condition called Preeclampsia, also referred to as Toxemia. Hypertension during pregnancy affects about 6-8% of pregnant women.
Management of Chronic and Gestational Hypertension of Pregnancy: A Guide for Primary Care Nurse Practitioners
Management of patients with chronic and gestational hypertension is similar once preeclampsia has been ruled out.
Management of hypertension in pregnancy
Gestational hypertension is the development of hypertension at or after 20 weeks gestation, in the absence of other features of pre-eclampsia. Gestational hypertension is associated with an increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia (up to 25%, depending on the gestation at presentation), as well as the future development of cardiovascular disease. Fetal growth restriction is not typically a feature of gestational hypertension.
