title: Hypertensive pregnancy disorders: current concepts.
abstract: Hypertensive pregnancy disorders complicate 10% of all pregnancies and cover a spectrum of conditions, namely preeclampsia, eclampsia, and chronic and gestational hypertension. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder clinically characterized by hypertension and proteinuria that occurs after 20 weeks of gestation. It remains a leading cause of both fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traditionally, hypertensive pregnancy disorders were considered not to have any long-term impact on mothers' cardiovascular health; however, recent studies consistently have supported the role of hypertension in pregnancy as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease later in life. Therefore, improved screening, and preventive and treatment strategies may not only optimize management of hypertensive pregnancy disorders, but may have a long-term impact on women's cardiovascular events and outcomes years after the affected pregnancies. This article will provide a brief review of hypertensive pregnancy disorders and important recent discoveries regarding their pathogeneses, while focusing on current diagnostic and treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Snezana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barac
authors.forename: Vesna D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Garovic
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000075202:Contraindications; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents