HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS

2022
 OVERVIEW
 Preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic
hypertension and complicate up to 10% of pregnancies.
 As a group, they are one member of the deadly triad-along with
hemorrhage and infection- that contributes greatly to maternal
morbidity (Judy, 2019).
 Preeclampsia, either alone or superimposed on chronic
hypertension, is the most dangerous.
 In the United States from 2011 to 2015, 7 percent of pregnancy-
related maternal deaths were caused by preeclampsia or
eclampsia (Petersen, 2019).
 Most hypertension-related deaths are deemed preventable
(Katsuragi, 2019).
 Diagnosis of Hypertensive Disorders

 Hypertension is diagnosed empirically when SBP and

DBP exceed 140 mm Hg and 90 mm Hg, respectively.
Gestational Hypertension
 BP that reach 140/90 mm Hg or greater for the first time

after mid-pregnancy but lack proteinuria. Almost half of

affected women subsequently develop preeclampsia
(Jim, 2017).
 Transient HTN if preeclampsia does not develop and

blood pressure returns to normal by 12 weeks

postpartum.
 Preeclampsia Syndrome
 Pregnancy-specific syndrome that can affect virtually
every organ system.
 The appearance of protein remains a primary diagnostic
criterion.
 Preeclampsia can be divided into early onset, <34 weeks;
late onset, ≥34 weeks; preterm onset, <37 weeks; and
term onset, ≥37 weeks (Burton, 2019; Poon, 2019).
 Multiorgan involvement may be reflected by
thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction, hepatocellular
necrosis, CNS perturbations, or pulmonary edema.