Hypertension in Pregnancy Flashcards
What % of all pregnancies does hypertension affect?
10-15%
What is a primigravida woman?
A woman who is pregnant for the first time
What % of primigravida women are affected by mild pre-eclampsia?
10%
What % of primigravida women are affected by sever pre-eclampsia?
1%
What % of women with eclampsia will die?
<1%
What is pre-eclampsia the commonest cause of?
Iatrogenic prematurity
Up to what % of antenatal hospital admissions are due to hypertension?
25%
Hypertension results in __% of antenatal hospital admissions?
25%
Peripheral vascular resistance _________ by 15-20% during pregnancy
DECREASES
CVP is _________ during pregnancy
UNCHANGED
What is CVP?
Central vascular resistance - resistance in the vena cava
During what trimester do most cardiovascular changes occur?
1st
What is BP proportional to?
Systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output.
In pregnancy, what happens to blood vessels?
They vasodilate
What happens to BP in early pregnancy?
It FALLS
Why does BP fall in early pregnancy?
It occurs because the circulation expands during pregnancy and hormonal changes cause the blood vessels to dilate, leading to a lowering of blood pressure.
The blood pressure begins to fall in early pregnancy and is usually at its lowest sometime in the middle of the second trimester.
When is Nadir reached (lowest point)?
At 22-24 weeks
After nadir, when the lowest BP is reached, what happens?
The BP slowly rises until term
What happens to BP after delivery?
Falls after delivery, but subsequently rises and peaks at day 3-4 P/N
What is hypertension in pregnancy defined as?
- ≥140/90 mmHg on 2 occasions
or - > 160/110 mmHg once
- (ACOG - >30/15 mmHg compared to first trimester BP)
What are the 3 categories of hypertension in pregnancy?
- Pre-existing hypertension.
- Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH).
- Pre-eclampsia.
When is pre-existing hypertension diagnosed?
Before pregnancy obvs
When should you think pre-existing hypertension?
If there is hypertension in EARLY pregnancy
What are PET and PIH diseases of?
Second half of pregnancy
When may pre-existing hypertension be a retrospective diagnosis?
BP has not returned to normal within 3 months of delivery
List some causes of pre-existing hypertension.
Renal/cardiac, Cushing’s, Conn’s, Phaeochromocytoma
What are the risks for a pregnant woman with pre-existing hypertension?
PET (x2), IUGR and abruption.
When does the onset of PIH occur?
Second half of pregnancy
When will PIH resolve by?
6 weeks after pregnancy
How can PIH be differentiated from pre-eclampsia?
There is no proteinuria, or other features of pre-eclampsia.
What has better outcomes; PIH or pre-eclampsia?
PIH
What is the % progression of this to pre-eclampsia? What does this depend on?
15% - depends on gestation.
What is the rate of recurrence of PIH with subsequent pregnancies like?
High
What is pre-eclampsia classically defined by the presence of?
Hypertension \+ Proteinuria (≥0.3g/l or ≥0.3g/24h) \+ Oedema
If one of the 3 features of pre-eclampsia is not present, it can be ruled out as a diagnosis
FALSE
What is pre-eclampsia?
A pregnancy-specific multi-system disorder with unpredictable, variable and widespread manifestations.
Pre-eclampsia can be asymptomatic at time of first presentation
True
Pathologically, what does pre-eclampsia involve?
A diffuse vascular endothelial dysfunction and widespread circulatory disturbance.
Name 6 systems which pre-eclampsia may involve?
Renal. Hepatic. Cardiovascular. Haematology CNS. Placenta.
When does EARLY pre-eclampsia occur?
<34 weeks
How common is EARLY pre-eclampsia?
Uncommon – 12% of all pre-eclampsia.
In relation to the placenta, what is pre-eclampsia associated with?
Extensive villous and vascular lesions of the placenta.
Compare the risk of early pre-eclampsia to late pre-eclampsia.
Higher risk of maternal and foetal complications.
When does LATE pre-eclampsia occur?
> 34 weeks
What type of pre-eclampsia makes up the majority of pre-eclampsia?
LATE - around 88%
What effect does late pre-eclampsia have on the placenta?
Minimal placental lesions