title: Medical disorders in pregnancy, including hypertensive diseases.
abstract: Medical disorders, including hypertensive diseases, may exist prior to pregnancy (eg, connective tissue diseases, chronic hypertension, thyroid disease) or may manifest themselves for the first time during pregnancy (eg, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension). The outcome for a particular pregnancy will depend on the nature of the disease, the severity of the disease process at onset of pregnancy, and the quality of obstetric and medical management used. Management of pregnancies with preexisting medical disorders should begin before conception. These women should be evaluated to determine the severity of the disorder and to establish the presence of possible target organ damage. In addition, they should be counseled regarding the potential adverse effects of the disease on pregnancy outcome and the effects of pregnancy on their disease. These women should be instructed regarding the importance of early onset of prenatal care and compliance with frequent prenatal visits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38103.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sibai
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents