Pregnancy outcome in primigravidae with late onset hypertensive disease.
BACKGROUND
The perinatal mortality associated with pre-eclampsia is extremely high and it is mainly associated with early onset disease in multiparous women. Hypertension without proteinuria in late pregnancy may not be associated with high perinatal mortality rates.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the perinatal outcome in primigravidae women with hypertension occurring in late pregnancy, that is, at thirty fourth week or later.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
Labour ward of King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa.


METHODS
Three hundred and twenty two primigravidae consisting of 161 hypertensives and 161 controls.


METHODS
Maternal and foetal morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
The hypertensive group was divided into those with proteinuria (group a) and without proteinuria (group b). The mean birthweight of babies born to proteinuric hypertensives was significantly lower than that of hypertensives without proteinuria and the normotensive group (2.4 kg (a) versus 2.8 kg (b) versus 3.02 kg (c) respectively--a versus b, p = 0.0001; a versus c, p = 0.001; b versus c, p = 0.009). There were nine perinatal deaths and all occurred in the proteinuric hypertension group.


CONCLUSIONS
Primigravidae with late onset proteinuric hypertension had smaller babies and higher perinatal mortality than their aproteinuric hypertensive and normotensive controls.
Moodley
J
J
Pregnancy Hypertension Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, South Africa.
Mphatsoe
M
M
Gouws
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000401:mortality*; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000401:mortality*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000401:mortality*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology