title: Hypertension in pregnancy.
abstract: Selected articles on hypertensive diseases in pregnancy from the past year are highlighted. The concept that endothelial cell dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia has been strengthened. The initial inciting event is still unclear, but inadequate implantation and decreased antioxidant activity may play a role. Magnesium sulfate is still the anticonvulsant of choice for seizure prophylaxis, but the exact mechanism of its action remains controversial. The ideal screening test to identify those patients likely to develop preeclampsia is still lacking, and the side effects and risks of aspirin prophylaxis are not yet known. The results from the National Institutes of Health-sponsored multicenter trial on this subject should be forthcoming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94123-0132.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors