Maternal Outcomes of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Objective: To study the maternal outcomes/complications of preeclampsia syndrome. Patients and methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was conducted at Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, for duration of one year lasting from January 2010 to December 2010. The sample size was 102 and the following patients were included in this study: those with clinical and /or laboratory evidence suggestive of preeclampsia, those with preeclampsia superimposed upon chronic hypertension, pregnant women of all ages and parity. The following patients were excluded from this study: those with evidence of chronic hypertension without proteinuria, those with evidence of gestational or transient hypertension without proteinuria, and those with evidence of other connective tissue /autoimmune disorders. Diagnoses of preeclampsia was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory evidence suggestive of the syndrome. Results: Forty two (41.2%) with preeclampsia were in the age group of 16 to 25 years, 21 women (20.06%) in > 25 to < 35 years and 39(38.2%) in > 35 years. Forty one women (40.2%) were nulliparous and 29(28.4%) were gravid 2 or more. The most frequent gestational age was 36-40 weeks. Twenty patients of blind urethral stricture with age range 20-44 years were treated. There was good result in 14 patients (70%), fair in 4(20%) and in 2 patients (10%) urethroplasty failed. Overall success rate was 90%. 34(33.3%) had their labour induced (preterm) and 18(17.6%) underwent C-section. Out of 102, 10(9.8%) had abruptio placentae, and 14 were found with HELLP syndrome. Maternal mortality was 1.9% as maternal death occurred in two women among the patient population Conclusion: Pregnancy induced hypertension is still major cause of maternal & infant morbidity and mortality.