1. Hypertension in Pregnancy
Prof \ Refaat Al-Sheimy

2. Hypertension in Pregnancy Introduction
Complicates 7-10% of pregnancies
70% Preeclampsia-eclampsia
30% Chronic hypertension
Eclampsia 0.05% incidence
20% of Maternal Deaths
Cause of 10% of Preterm birth
Etiology unknown

3. Hypertension in Pregnancy Introduction
Young female 3 fold increased risk
African American 2 fold increased risk
Multifetal pregnancies
Twins
Triplets
Hypertension
Renal Disease
Collagen Vascular Disease

4. Hypertension in Pregnancy Classification
Chronic hypertension
Preeclampsia-eclampsia
Preeclampsia Superimposed upon chronic hypertension or Renal Disease
Gestational hypertension (only during pregnancy)
Transient hypertension (only after pregnancy)

5. Chronic Hypertension Defined as hypertension diagnosed
Before pregnancy
Before the 20th week of gestation
During pregnancy and not resolved postpartum

6. Gestational Hypertension
Systolic >140
Diastolic>90
No Proteinurea
25% Develop Pre-eclampsia

7. Gestational Hypertension
Diagnosis of gestational hypertension:
Detected for first time after midpregnancy
No proteinuria
Only until a more specific diagnosis can be assigned postpartum
If preeclampsia does not develop and
BP returns to normal by 12 weeks postpartum, diagnosis is transient hypertension.
BP remains high postpartum, diagnosis is chronic hypertension.
Proteinurea develops Preeclampsia is diagnosed (25% incidence)

8. Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Occurs after 20th week (earlier with trophoblastic disease)
Increased BP (gestational BP elevation) with proteinuria
Edema is NOT part of this definition

9. Diagnosis of Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Gestational Hypertension:
Systolic >140
Diastolic>90
Proteinuria is defined as urinary excretion
0.3 g protein or greater in a 24-hour
+2 or greater on urine dip specimen

10. Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Blood pressure
Measure blood pressure in the sitting position, with the cuff at the level of the heart. Inferior vena caval compression by the gravid uterus while the patient is supine can alter readings substantially, leading to an underestimation of the blood pressure. Blood pressures measured in the left lateral position similarly may yield falsely low values if the blood pressure is measured in the higher arm and the cuff is not maintained at heart level.
Allow women to sit quietly for 5-10 minutes before measuring the blood pressure.

11. Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Blood pressure
Record Korotkoff sounds I (the first sound) and V (the disappearance of sound) to denote the systolic blood pressure (SPB) and DPB, respectively. In about 5% of women, an exaggerated gap exists between the fourth (muffling) and fifth (disappearance) Korotkoff sounds, with the fifth sound approaching zero. In this setting, record both the fourth and fifth sounds (eg, 120/80/40 with sound I = 120, sound IV = 80, sound V = 40).

12. Classification of Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Mild Pre-eclampsia
Severe Pre-eclampsia

13. Classification of Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Criteria for Severe Preeclampsia (one or more)
Blood Pressure: >160 systolic, >110 diastolic
Proteinurea: >5gm in 24 hours, over 3+ urine dip
Oligurea: less than 400ml in 24 hours
CNS: Visual changes, headache, scotomata, mental status change
Pulmonary Edema
Epigastric or RUQ Pain: Usually indicates liver involvement

14. Classification of Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
Criteria for Severe Preeclampsia (one or more)
Impaired Liver Function tests
Thrombocytopenia: >100,000
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: With or without abnormal doppler assessment
Oligohydramnios

15. Classification of Preeclampsia Superimposed Upon Chronic Hypertension
Hypertension and no proteinuria < 20 weeks:
New-onset proteinuria after 20 weeks
Hypertension and proteinuria < 20 weeks:
Sudden increase in proteinuria
Sudden increase in BP in women whose hypertension was well controlled
Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100,000 cells/mm3)
Increase in ALT or AST to abnormal levels

16. Clinical Implications of Preeclampsia
Preeclampsia ranges from mild to severe.
Progression may be slow or rapid – hours to days to weeks.
For clinical management, preeclampsia should be over diagnosed to prevent maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality – primarily through timing of delivery.

17. Pathophysiology
Of importance, and distinguishing preeclampsia from chronic or gestational hypertension, is that preeclampsia is more than hypertension; it is a systemic syndrome, and several of its “nonhypertensive” complications can be life-threatening when blood pressure elevations are quite mild.

18. Pathophysiology The maternal disease is characterized by Vasospasm
Activation of the coagulation system
Perturbations in humoral and autacoid systems related to volume and blood pressure control
Oxidative stress and inflammatory-like responses
Pathologic changes that are ischemic in nature

19. Pathophysiology
Heart: Generally unaffected; cardiac decompensation in the presence of preexisting heart disease.
Kidney: Renal lesions (glomerular endotheliosis); GFR and renal blood flow decrease; hyperuricemia; proteinuria may appear late in clinical course; hypocalciuria; alterations in calcium regulatory hormones; impaired sodium excretion; suppression of renin angiotensin system.

20. Pathophysiology
Coagulation System: Thrombocytopenia; low antithrombin III; higher fibronectin.
Liver: HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated ALT and AST, and low platelet count).
CNS: Eclampsia is the convulsive phase of preeclampsia. Symptoms may include headache and visual disturbances, including blurred vision, scotomata, and, rarely, cortical blindness.

21. Symptoms of Preeclampsia
Visual disturbances typical of preeclampsia are scintillations and scotomata. These disturbances are presumed to be due to cerebral vasospasm.
Headache is of new onset and may be described as frontal, throbbing, or similar to a migraine headache. However, no classic headache of preeclampsia exists.
Epigastric pain is due to hepatic swelling and inflammation, with stretch of the liver capsule. Pain may be of sudden onset, it may be constant, and it may be moderate-to-severe in intensity.

22. Symptoms of preeclampsia
While mild lower extremity edema is common in normal pregnancy, rapidly increasing or nondependent edema may be a signal of developing preeclampsia. However, this signal theory remains controversial and recently has been removed from most criteria for the diagnosis of preeclampsia.
Rapid weight gain is a result of edema due to capillary leak as well as renal sodium and fluid retention.

23. Physical Findings in Preeclampsia
Blood Pressure
Proteinurea
Retinal vasospasm or Retinal edema
Right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal tenderness stems from liver swelling and capsular stretch

24. Physical findings in Preeclampsia
Brisk, or hyperactive, reflexes are common during pregnancy, but clonus is a sign of neuromuscular irritability that raises concern.
Among pregnant women, 30% have some lower extremity edema as part of their normal pregnancy. However, a sudden change in dependent edema, edema in nondependent areas such as the face and hands, or rapid weight gain suggests a pathologic process and warrants further evaluation

25. Differential Diagnosis
Documentation of HBP before conception or before gestational week 20 favors a diagnosis of chronic hypertension (essential or secondary).
HBP presenting at midpregnancy (weeks 20 to 28) may be due to early preeclampsia, transient hypertension, or unrecognized chronic hypertension.

26. Differential Diagnosis
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy (AFLP)

27. Laboratory Tests High-risk patients presenting with normal BP:
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
Serum uric acid
If 1+ protein by routine urinalysis (clean catch) present obtain a timed collection for protein and creatinine
Accurate dating and assessment of fetal growth
Baseline sonogram at 25 to 28 weeks

28. Laboratory Tests
Patients presenting with hypertension before gestation week 20:
Same tests as described for high-risk patients presenting with normal BP
Early baseline sonography for dating and fetal size

29. Laboratory Tests
Patients presenting with hypertension after midpregnancy:
Quantification of protein excretion
Hemoglobin and hematocrit and platelet count
Serum creatinine, uric acid, and transaminase level
Serum albumin, LDH, blood smear, and coagulation profile

30. Preeclampsia: Treatment
Goal is to prevent eclampsia and other severe complications.
Attempts to treat preeclampsia by natriuresis or by lowering BP may exacerbate pathologic changes.
Palliate maternal condition to allow fetal maturation and cervical ripening.

31. Preeclampsia: Treatment
Maternal Evaluation
Goals:
Early recognition of preeclampsia
Observe progression, both to prevent maternal complications and protect well-being of fetus Early signs:
BP rises in late second and early third trimesters.
Initial appearance of proteinuria is important.

32. Preeclampsia: Treatment
Maternal Evaluation (cont.)
Often, hospitalization recommended with new-onset preeclampsia to assess maternal and fetal conditions.
Hospitalization for duration of pregnancy indicated for preterm onset of severe gestational hypertension or preeclampsia.
Ambulatory management at home or at day-care unit may be considered with mild gestational hypertension or preeclampsia remote from term

33. Preeclampsia

34. Preeclampsia Antepartum Management of Preeclampsia
Little to suggest therapy alters the underlying pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Restricted activity may be reasonable.
Sodium restriction and diuretic therapy appear to have no positive effect.

35. Preeclampsia Indications for Delivery in Preeclampsia* Maternal
Gestational age 38 weeks
Platelet count < 100,000 cells/mm3
Progressive deterioration in liver and renal function
Suspected abruptio placentae
Persistent severe headaches, visual changes, nausea, epigastric pain, or vomiting
*Delivery should be based on maternal and fetal conditions as well as gestational age.

36. Preeclampsia Indications for Delivery in Preeclampsia* - Fetal
Severe fetal growth restriction
Nonreassuring fetal testing results
Oligohydramnios
*Delivery should be based on maternal and fetal conditions as well as gestational age.

37. Preeclampsia The “cure” for preeclampsia is delivery
The “cure” is always beneficial for the mother, although c-section might be needed
The “cure” may be deleterious for the fetus

38. Preeclampsia Route of Delivery Vaginal delivery is preferable.
Aggressive labor induction (within 24 hours).
Neuraxial (epidural, spinal, and combined spinal-epidural) techniques offer advantages.
Hydralazine, nitroglycerin, or labetalol may be used as pretreatment to reduce significant hypertension during delivery.

39. Preeclampsia Anticonvulsive Therapy
Indicated to prevent recurrent convulsions in women with eclampsia or to prevent convulsions in women with preeclampsia.
Parenteral magnesium sulfate reduces the frequency of eclampsia and maternal death. (Caution in renal failure.)

40. Treatment of Acute Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy
SBP > 160 mm Hg and/or DBP > 105 mm Hg
Parenteral hydralazine is most commonly used.
Parenteral labetalol is second-line drug (avoid in women with asthma and CHF.)
Oral nifedipine used with caution. (Short-acting nifedipine is not approved by FDA for managing hypertension.)
Sodium nitroprusside may be used in rare cases.

41. Postpartum Counseling and Followup
Counseling for Future Pregnancies
Risk of recurrent preeclampsia increases with
Preeclampsia before 30 weeks (40%)
Multiparas as compared with nulliparas or new father
Risk of recurrent preeclampsia may be substantially greater in African Americans.

42. Remote Prognosis Preeclampsia-Eclampsia
The more certain the diagnosis of preeclampsia, the lower the prevalence of remote cardiovascular disorders.
Preeclampsia-eclampsia in subsequent pregnancies helps define future risk.
Gestational hypertension in any pregnancy increases remote cardiovascular risk.