Variability of arterial blood pressure in normal and in hypertensive pregnancy

Abstract

The measurement of arterial blood pressure has traditionally been an important part of prenatal care. Beside the detection of a significant hypotension, the major aim of regular blood pressure controls is the early diagnosis of hypertensive complications of pregnancy, especially severe cases of preeclampsia, and the prevention of eclamptic convulsions. Although there has been a marked reduction in fatal courses of preeclampsia and eclampsia since the establishment of standardized and effective therapeutic measures, maternal mortality is nevertheless considerably affected by hypertensive complications during pregnancy [1–3]. In addition, the severe forms of preeclampsia are an important cause of prematurity and perinatal mortality. Clinical experience has shown that in a large number of patients with severe preeclampsia prenatal care had been either insufficient (e. g., long intervals. between prenatal visits in the third trimester) or the significance of a major rise in blood pressure was misjudged or had not been sufficiently treated. Considering that hypertension is a major symptom of preeclampsia, an exact knowledge of the changes in arterial blood pressure during pregnancy is an important prerequisite of modern prenatal care.