Concurrent hypertension and pregnancy

Concurrent hypertension in pregnancy alters the diagnosis and prognosis of both the vascular disease and the gestation. Insight into the physiologic and pathophysiologic changes is essential to assessing the patient's status and to determining what antenatal care may yield the best outcome of the pregnancy. In this monograph we have presented (1) a classification, which correlates well with those currently in use, of the types of hypertension and their causes; (2) a brief review of current fact and theory regarding the effect of hypertension on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality; (3) a detailed approach to monitoring the physical and laboratory parameters of the parturient; (4) a rational approach to monitoring the fetoplacental unit; and (5) an analysis of currently available therapeutic regimens that may alter the course of hypertension in pregnancy sufficiently to increase fetal salvage and decrease maternal complications. Certainly more research into the mechanisms of CHP will be forthcoming as will newer and more precise diagnostic aids. Pharmacologic agents with varied hypotensive actions are constantly being developed, and combinations of these may yield more beneficial results.