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Hypertension: from basic research to clinical practice pp 395–407Cite as

Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AIM,volume 956))

Abstract

Chronic hypertension is frequently encountered during pregnancy and needs to be distinguished from other hypertensive complications of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. The prevalence of this pregnancy complication is attributable to the increased prevalence of obesity and maternal age at childbearing. Women with chronic arterial hypertension are at increased risk for several pregnancy complications, including superimposed preeclampsia, caesarean delivery, preterm delivery <37 weeks gestation, birth weight <2500 g, neonatal unit admission, and perinatal death. Therefore, specialized attention should be given to these women as part of family planning before conception to provide counseling about the pregnancy risks, to inform about surveillance of fetal well-being, to determine the timing of delivery, and to optimize BP control before, during, and after birth.

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Abbreviations

ACE:

Angiotensin converting enzyme

ACOG:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

ARB:

angiotensin II receptor blockers

BP:

blood pressure

CHIPS:

Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study

cHT:

chronic arterial hypertension

CI:

confidence interval

DASH:

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

HT:

Hypertension

JNC-8:

Eighth Joint National Committee

NHBPEP:

National High Blood Pressure Education Program’s

OR:

odds ratio

PE:

preeclampsia

RR:

relative risk

SGA:

Small for gestational age.

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The author declares no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Luís Guedes-Martins

  2. Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal

    Luís Guedes-Martins

  3. Departamento da Mulher e da Medicina Reprodutiva, Centro Hospitalar do Porto EPE, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001, Porto, Portugal

    Luís Guedes-Martins

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Correspondence to Luís Guedes-Martins .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Md. Shahidul Islam

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden

    Md. Shahidul Islam

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Guedes-Martins, L. (2016). Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy. In: Islam, M.S. (eds) Hypertension: from basic research to clinical practice. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 956. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2016_81

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2016_81

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