Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

By
Francis Kamwendo
@
Nkhota-kota

Adapted from Obstetrics Simplified

by Diaa M. EI-Mowafi
 Classification

1. PRE-EXISTING (CHRONIC) HYPERTENSION

2. PRE-ECLAMPSIA
1. Differential Diagnosis
2. Complications
3. Treatment
4. ECLAMPSIA
Pre-existing (chronic) hypertension:
Hypertension is present before pregnancy,
detected in early pregnancy (before 20 weeks in
absence of vesicular mole) and postpartum.
Examples:
essential hypertension,
secondary to chronic renal disorders e.g. pyelonephritis
and renal artery stenosis,
coarctation of the aorta, systemic lupus erythematosus
and pheochromocytoma.
PRE-EXISTING (CHRONIC) HYPERTENSION

Causes
Essential hypertension: of unknown aetiology.
Secondary to chronic renal disorder: e.g.
Glomerulonephritis.
Hydronephrosis.
Pyelonephritis.
Renal artery stenosis.
Secondary to cardiovascular disease: e.g.
Coarctation of the aorta.
Polyartheritis nodosa.
Systemic lupus erythematosus.
 PRE-EXISTING (CHRONIC)
HYPERTENSION
Causes
Secondary to endocrine disorders: e.g.
Primary aldosteronism.
Phaeochromocytoma.
Adrenocortical tumours.
Diabetes mellitus.
 Effect of Pregnancy on Chronic
Hypertension
Blood pressure falls by the second trimester in
most of cases, but rises during the third
trimester to a level some what above that in
early pregnancy.
Deterioration of the underlying disease.
 Effect of Chronic Hypertension on Pregnancy

Maternal: Foetal:
superimposed pre-
eclampsia/ eclampsia in 15- Intrauterine growth
20% of cases retardation.
Intrauterine foetal
death.
 Treatment

General and medical treatment

As pre-eclampsia regarding the following:
Rest
Antihypertensives
Observation
 Pregnancy-induced hypertension
(PIH):
Transient hypertension:
Late onset hypertension, without proteinuria or
pathologic oedema
Pre-eclampsia:
Hypertension with proteinuria and / or oedema after
20 weeks of pregnancy, but may be earlier in vesicular
mole.
Eclampsia:
Pre-eclampsia + convulsions.
 Superimposed pre-eclampsia or
eclampsia:
Development of pre-eclampsia or eclampsia in
pre-existing hypertension detected by a further
increase of 30 mmHg or more in systolic blood
pressure or 15 mmHg or more in diastolic blood
pressure.
 PRE-ECLAMPSIA
Incidence: 5-10%.
Aetiology:
Although eclampsia had been described
since 200 years, no definite aetiology is
found for PIH and it is still a disease of
theories.
 Predisposing factors
Primigravidae more than multigravidae.
Pre-existing hypertension.
Previous pre-eclampsia.
Family history of pre-eclampsia.
Hyperplacentosis i.e. excessive chorionic tissue as
in hydatidiform mole, multiple pregnancy,
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and foetal
haemolytic diseases.
Obesity.

 Theories
The uteroplacental bed
Immunological factor
Genetic factor
Renin- angiotensin system
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
Prostaglandins
Neutrophils
 Pathological Changes
Vasospasm
Coagulation status
Sodium and water retention
 Diagnosis

Signs
Symptoms
 Signs
Hypertension:
Proteinuria (albuminuria):
Oedema:
 Hypertension

Blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more or

an increase of 30 mmHg in systolic and/or 15
mmHg in diastolic blood pressure over the
pre- or early pregnancy level.
How to measure the blood pressure in
pregnancy 1
The patient should rest for at least 30 min. after
arriving to the clinic.
Remove any tight clothing from the right arm.
The patient lies comfortably on the left side that her
back makes an angle of about 30o with the bed. The
right arm is supported to be with the
sphygmomanometer at the same level with the
patients sternum i.e. her heart. Each cm above or
below the level of the heart induces a difference of
0.7mmHg in blood pressure reading. She should lie
undisturbed in this position for 2-3 min. before blood
pressure is measured.
How to measure the blood pressure in
pregnancy 2
The cuff should be applied to the right upper arm with
the connecting tubes pointing downwards, the centre
of the rubber bag in the cuff is directly over the
brachial artery leaving ante-cubital fossa free.
Apply cuff firmly but not tightly around the arm.
Feel the brachial artery and apply the stethoscope
directly over it without undue pressure.
Pump up cuff rapidly to 20-30 mmHg above the point
at which the pulse sound disappears, and take blood
pressure reading without delay.
How to measure the blood pressure in
pregnancy 3
Let air out slowly so that mercury falls steadily by 2-3
mm/sec.
Blood pressure measurement phases (Korotkoff):
Korotkoff I Appearance of the sound systolic reading.
Korotkoff II Accentuation of the sound.
Korotkoff III Sound becomes harsh.
Korotkoff IV Sound becomes muffled diastolic reading.
Korotkoff V Disappearance of the sound.
Korotkoff I and IV is the reading for systolic and diastolic
blood pressure respectively. If you wait the disappearance
of the sound to take the diastolic reading (as in non-
pregnant state) you may reach down to zero because of the
hyperdynamic circulation during pregnancy.
How to measure the blood pressure in
pregnancy 4
Use the right arm for measuring because it is
more convenient to the physician, but if the
reading is 10 mmHg or more higher in the left
arm use it in the future readings.
The blood pressure should be measured in
two occasions at least 6 hours apart.
 Proteinuria (albuminuria)
It is urinary protein greater than 0.3gm/L in 24
hours collection or greater than 1gm/L in two
random samples obtained at least 6 hours
apart.
It indicates glomerular damage and almost
always occurs after hypertension.
Proteinuria is usually in the range of 1-3 gm
daily, of which 50-60% is albumin but in
severe cases it may exceed 15gm.
 Oedema
It is weight gain of more than 1 kg in any one
week or 2.25 kg in any one month.
Clinical oedema is present in about two-thirds
of patients with PIH. However, two-thirds of
pregnant women with clinical oedema do not
develop hypertension.
 Symptoms
These are usually manifestations of severe pre-eclampsia.
Headache: usually frontal but may be occipital. It is due
to cerebral oedema and hypertension.
Visual disturbances: blurring of vision, flashes of light
or blindness.
Epigastric or right upper quadrant pain: due to
enlargement and subcapsular hemorrhage of the liver.
Nausea and vomiting: due to congestion of gastric
mucosa and/ or cerebral oedema.
Oliguria or anuria: due to kidney pathology.
 Investigations
Complete urine examination: for proteinuria, pus cells,
RBCs, casts, specific gravity, culture and sensitivity.
Kidney function tests: serum uric acid > 6 mg % is abnormal
during pregnancy. It is more specific for pre-eclampsia than
creatinine.
Coagulation status: Platelet count, fibrinogen and FDP as
DIC may develop.
Eye fundus examination.
Tests for foetal well being: as
ultrasound,
daily foetal movement count,
non-stress test,
oxytocin challenge test (if needed).
 N.B.
Imminent eclampsia: It is a state in which the patient is
about to develop eclampsia. Usually there are:
blood pressure much higher than 160 /110 mmHg,
heavy proteinuria (+++or ++++),
hyperreflexia,
severe continuous headache,
blurring of vision,
epigastric pain.
Fulminating pre-eclampsia: a rapidly deteriorating pre-
eclampsia to be imminent eclampsia
 Pre-eclampsia Pre-existing
(chronic)
Hypertension
Parity usually usually
primigravida multigravida.
Past History of pre-eclampsia of hypertension in
may be present between
pregnancies.
Hypertension after the 20th week before pregnancy,
of pregnancy during the first 20
(except in vesicular weeks and persists
mole) and after 6 weeks
disappears within 6 postpartum.
weeks postpartum
Proteinuria If present, it If present, it
develops after develops before
hypertension hypertension due
to underlying renal
disease.
 Pre-eclampsia Pre-existing (chronic)
Hypertension
Hyperreflexia may be present. absent.

Fundus Examination Normal or retinal vessels Sclerotic changes.

spasm, oedema, exudate
and papilloedema (oedema
of the optic disc).
Serum Uric Acid Its increase is not Its increase is propotionate
proportionate to serum to serum creatinine
creatinine
 Differential Diagnosis
Other causes of hypertension
Other Causes of proteinuria
Other causes of oedema
 Other Causes of proteinuria

Contamination of urine by vaginal discharge this is

excluded by examination of a midstream sample after
cleansing the introitus with sterile water or saline or by
using a catheter.
Urinary infection: excluded by microscopic examination
and culture of urine.
Congestive heart failure and severe anaemia due to
hypoxia of the kidney.
Orthostatic proteinuria: Proteinuria is detected at the
end of the day while it is absent in the morning. This is
due to pressure of the lumbar spines on the left renal
vein during standing
 Other causes of oedema
General causes: cardiac, hepatic, renal or
nutritional oedema.
Local causes: as inflammatory or deep vein
thrombosis (usually unilateral).
Pressure of the gravid uterus on the pelvic
veins may produce ankle oedema.
 Complications

Maternal: Foetal:

Convulsions and coma

(eclampsia). Intrauterine growth
Cerebral haemorrhage. retardation (IUGR).
Renal failure. Intrauterine foetal death.
Heart failure. Prematurity and its
Liver failure. complications.
Disseminated intravascular
coagulation.
Abruptio placentae.
Residual chronic hypertension
in about 1/3 of cases.
Recurrent pre-eclampsia in
next pregnancies.
 Treatment
Prophylactic
Curative
 Prophylactic
Proper antenatal care:
To detect the high risk patients who may develop PIH through
the screening tests.
Early detection of cases who have already developed PIH and
examine them more frequently.
Low dose aspirin:
It inhibits thromboxane production from the platelets and the
AII binding sites on platelets.
A low dose (60 mg daily) selectively inhibits thromboxane due to
higher concentration of such a low dose in the portal circulation
than systemic affecting the platelets when they pass through
the portal circulation. The Prostacyclin production from the
systemic vessels will not be affected.
 Curative
Delivery of the foetus and placenta is the only
real treatment of pre-eclampsia. As the
conditions are not always suitable for this, the
treatment aims to prevent or minimize the
maternal and foetal complications (see
before) till reasonable maturation of the
foetus.
 General measures:
Observation:

Maternal: Foetal:

blood pressure twice daily. daily foetal movement

urine volume and count,
proteinuria daily, serial sonography,
oedema daily, non-stress and stress test if
body weight twice weekly, needed.
fundus oculi once weekly,
blood picture including
platelet count, liver and
renal functions particularly
serum uric acid on
admission.
 Medical treatment
Antihypertensives:
decrease the maternal cerebral and cardiovascular complications but do not affect the foetal
outcome.
Alpha-methyl-dopa (Aldomet):
It reduces the central sympathetic drive.
Dose: 250-500 mg every 6-8 hours up to a maximum dose of 4 gm/day. Its effect appears after 48
hours.
A loading single dose of 2 gm may act within 1-2 hours.
Side effects: headache, athenia and nightmares.
Hydralazine (Apresoline):
It is a vasodilator, increases renal and uteroplacental blood flow.
Dose: 20 mg slowly IV initially followed by 5mg every 20 min. until diastolic blood pressure is 100-110
mmHg. This regimen is used for severe and acute hypertension. Oral hydralazine can be used in the
chronic situation as a second line treatment in a dose of 25-75 mg/ 6 hours.
Side effects: tachycardia, headache, flushing, nausea and vomiting.
Calcium channel blockers (Nifedipine):
It is a vasodilator acting by blocking the Ca influx into smooth muscle cells.
It can be given sublingually (acts within 10 minutes) or orally (acts within 30 minutes) in a dose of 10-
20 mg 2-3 times daily.
The higher the starting blood pressure the greater is the hypotensive effect.
Side effects: headache and flushing.
 Obstetric measures
Timing of delivery
Method of delivery
Intrapartum care
Postpartum care
 Timing of delivery: Severe pre-eclampsia is usually treated
conservatively till the end of the 36th week to ensure reasonable
maturation of the foetus. Indications of termination before 36th
week include:
Foetal: deteriorating placental Maternal: deteriorating maternal
function as judged by: condition as judged by:

intrauterine growth blood pressure is sustained

retardation, or exceeds 180/110
oligohydramnios, mmHg,
reduced foetal urine proteinuria > 5
movements, gm/24 hours,
abnormal foetal heart oliguria,
patterns, or evidence of DIC, or
failing biochemical results. imminent or already
developed eclampsia.
 Method of delivery:

Vaginal delivery may be commenced in vertex

presentation by:
amniotomy + oxytocin if the cervix is favourable.
prostaglandin vaginal tablet (PGE2) if the cervix is not
favourable.
Caesarean section is indicated in:
Foetal distress.
Late deceleration occurs with oxytocin challenge test.
Failure of induction of labour.
Other indications as contracted pelvis, and
malpresentations.
 Intrapartum care:

Close monitoring of the foetus is indicated.

Proper analgesia to the mother.
Anti-Hypertensives may be given if needed.
2nd stage of labour may be shortened by forceps.
 Postpartum care:

Methergin (Ergometrine) is better avoided as it

may increase the blood pressure.
Continue observation of the mother for 48 hours.
Anti- hypertensive drugs are continued in a
decreasing dose for 48 hours.
Thank you