Does Gestational hypertension Become PRE Eclampsia

Abstract

This study included 100 pregnant females chosen from those attending Tokh Central Hospital Antenatal Care Unit, depending on the development of GH during course of pregnancy after 20 weeks' gestational age. All women underwent complete history taking, full clinical examination and laboratory

investigations including urine analyses with determination of the leyel of proteinuria using urinary strips, and serum levels of uric acid, creatinine and albumin. Patients had mean age of 22.7±5.5; range 17-41 years. There were 82 primigravida and 18 multigravida, with a mean gravidity of 2.5±0.7, range 2-4 gravida and 3 had previous abortion. Ten patients had obstetric history of recurrent hypertension and 17 patients had a family history of gestational hypertension. There were 94 pregnant who with singleton fetus, whereas the other six had twin pregnancy. Patients had mean GA of 28.1±4.3; range 20-36 weeks, at time of development of GH. First trimester data recorded for patients included in the study mean systolic blood pressure 114.4±6.8; range 100-125 mmHg, mean diastolic blood pressure 74±4.3; range 65-85 mmHg; mean serum creatinine was 1±0.18, range 0.75-1.2 mg/dl, mean serum uric acid was 3.8±0.85, range 2.2-5.5 mg/dl and mean serum albumin was 3.32±0.52, range 2.2-4.5 mg/dl. No patient had proteinuria.

At time of inclusion in the study, there was significant (P<0.05) elevation of both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and a significant increase of serum uric acid, but there was a non-significant (P>0.05) increase and decrease in serum levels of creatinine and albumin, respectively, in comparison to data determined at first trimester. Through follow-up 18 ( 15 primi and 3 multigravida ) developed preeclampsia at a mean GA of 31.6±2.1 weeks, range 28-35 weeks with the mean time elapsed since inclusion in the study (time of getting GH) till progress to preeclampsia 4.7±3.1; range 2-12 weeks. Four preeclamptic patients were found to have multiple pregnancies, whereas the other 14 patients had singleton fetus.