Classify the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Classify the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are classified into four groups by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: chronic hypertension, preeclampsia-eclampsia, chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension.

Hypertension is defined as:

·  Systolic blood pressure: >140 mmHg or 30 mmHg above baseline

·  Diastolic blood pressure: >90 mmHg or 15 mmHg above baseline

·  Mean arterial blood pressure: >105 mmHg or 20 mmHg above baseline

Blood pressures should be measured at rest with left uterine displacement and should be reproducible at least 6 hours later.

Chronic hypertension is diagnosed when the blood pres-sure is elevated prior to the 20th week of pregnancy. Chronic hypertension is a disease state that predates pregnancy. Since blood pressure normally decreases during pregnancy, any parturient with a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg is suspected of having chronic hypertension.

Preeclampsia-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder unique to pregnancy. The triad of hypertension, proteinuria, and edema characterizes preeclampsia. Except in associa-tion with hydatidiform mole, preeclamptic hypertension does not manifest prior to the 20th week of gestation. Proteinuria is defined as the excretion of greater than 0.3 grams of protein in a 24-hour urine collection or 1+ on dipstick analysis. Edema must be generalized and not confined to dependent areas of the body. Preeclampsia is classified as either mild or severe depending on the degree of hypertension, extent of proteinuria, or patient complaints. Preeclampsia degenerates into eclampsia when generalized seizures occur (Table 60.1).

Gestational hypertension is defined as hypertension occurring after the 20th week of pregnancy in the absence of other signs of preeclampsia. Gestational hypertension is frequently essential hypertension that is unmasked by pregnancy.