title: Pregnancy in the chronically hypertensive patient.
abstract: The majority of patients with mild chronic hypertension have successful pregnancy outcomes. Most perinatal morbidity is secondary to superimposed preeclampsia. Antihypertensive therapy does not appear to significantly affect pregnancy outcome, nor the incidence of superimposed preeclampsia in mild chronic hypertensives. The maternal and fetal risks are considerably higher for severe chronic hypertension and for those patients with target organ disease. These patients ideally should be counseled regarding their risks prior to pregnancy. Antihypertensive therapy should be instituted at diastolic pressures greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Neerhof
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents