Gestational hypertension and current treatment approaches

Abstract

Maintaining optimal blood pressure during pregnancy is an essential element for healthy fetal development. Gestational hypertension is defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg and above without accompanying systemic findings such as proteinuria after the 20th week of pregnancy. Because hypertensive disorders during pregnancy increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, these patients should be offered lifelong follow-up. Studies on maternal deaths have revealed that preeclampsia and eclampsia are causes that should not be ignored in this regard. Untreated hypertension during pregnancy can lead to various maternal cardiovascular morbidities for both mother and baby. In addition, cardiovascular diseases are more common in mothers diagnosed with gestational hypertension in the post-pregnancy life. In this review, gestational hypertension and new treatment approaches are discussed.