Maternal and perinatal outcome of temporizing management in 254 consecutive patients with severe pre-eclampsia remote from term.
OBJECTIVE
To assess maternal and perinatal outcomes of expectant management with plasma volume expansion and pharmacologic vasodilatation in patients with severe pre-eclampsia remote from term.


METHODS
All women with severe pre-eclampsia between 20 and 32 weeks' gestation, not in labor and with a live, single fetus admitted to the University Hospital Rotterdam from 1985 to 1993 were managed with the intention to prolong gestation. Treatment consisted of correction of the maternal circulation with vasodilatation by means of dihydralazine and plasma volume expansion under central hemodynamic monitoring. Primary end-points of the study were prolongation of gestation, maternal antepartum and postpartum complications, and fetal and neonatal outcome.


RESULTS
Two-hundred fifty-four patients were included. The median prolongation of pregnancy was 14 (range 0-62) days. Hemodynamic treatment was associated with marked objective and subjective improvement in maternal condition. Complications of central hemodynamic monitoring were not observed. Perinatal mortality was 20.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Expectant management with plasma volume expansion and pharmacologic vasodilatation under central hemodynamic monitoring of the maternal circulation may delay delivery and enhance fetal maturity and does not appear to be associated with an increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality.
Erasmus University School of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
W
W
Visser
H C
HC
Wallenburg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004078:Dihydralazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010949:Plasma; D010953:Plasma Volume; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D004078:Dihydralazine