[Measurement of blood pressure in pregnancy]

The prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy is 4-10 percent. The most serious complication associated with hypertension in pregnancy is pre-eclampsia. In one out of ten pregnancies where pre-eclampsia is present very serious complications develop in the mother or the foetus, or both. Rising blood pressure remains the main indicator of impending pre-eclampsia. The reliability of blood pressure measurement is therefore of particular importance in pregnancy. This is emphasized by the following characteristics of hypertension in pregnancy: limited time to observe the patient; pre-eclamptic complications may be present at any stage where there is a rise in blood pressure, and the indications for and objectives of treatment of pregnancy hypertension are different from those employed in the general population. The measurement of antenatal blood pressure should be standardized. It should be carried out by a limited number of well-qualified health professionals, using only equipment of reknowned quality and technical standard. Rising blood pressure in pregnancy indicates pre-eclampsia until it has been disproved post partum. Because pre-eclampsia is a placental disorder, the foetus may be at risk at any stage in the development of the disease. The status of the foetus should therefore be monitored accordingly.