Hypertension in Pregnancy Flashcards
What happens to vessels during pregnancy?
Vasodilation
Is blood pressure high or low in early pregnancy?
Low
Is blood pressure high or low in late pregnancy?
High
When is the lowest blood pressure in pregnancy?
22-24 weeks
What are the parameters/criteria for diagnosing hypertension in pregnancy?
Greater than 140/90 on 2 occasions
Greater than 160/110 once
What is the most common cause of prematurity during pregnancy?
Preclampsia
If hypertension persists within 3 months of delivery of a baby, what is the likely diagnosis?
Pre-existing (undiagnosed) hypertension
If hypertension occurs in early pregnancy, what is the differential diagnosis?
Pre-existing hypertension
List some secondary causes of pre-existing hypertension
Renal Cardiac Cushings Conns Phaechromocytoma
If hypertension occurs in second half of pregnancy, what are the differential diagnoses?
Pregnancy-induced hypertension
Preclampsia
When should pregnancy-induced hypertension resolve by?
6 weeks following delivery
There is a high recurrence rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension. True/ False?
True
What is the triad of features present in pre-eclampsia?
Hypertension
Proteinuria
Oedema
Absence of symptoms excludes diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. True/ False?
False
Often asymptomatic at 1st presentation
How much proteinuria meets the criteria for pre-eclampsia?
0.3 g/l or more
0.3 g or more in 24 hour period
2+ on dipstick
How is pre-eclampsia classified?
Early (<34 weeks)
Late (>34 weeks)
Describe the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia
Abnormal placental perfusion and failure of trophoblast invasion cause spiral arteries to stay as high resistance/low flow vessels, leading to placental endothelial damage and thrombosis
Preclampsia is a multi-system disorder. List the most common crisis’s found in preclampsia
Eclampsia HELLP syndrome Pulmonary Oedema Placental Abruption Cerebral Haemorrhage Cortical Blindness Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Acute Renal Failure Hepatic Rupture
What is the most common clinical sign of liver pathology in preclampsia?
Epigastric/ RUQ pain
Pulmonary oedema, as a complication of preclampsia, can result in which emergency condition?
ARDS