ANTEPARTUM AND POSTPARTUM 24-HOUR AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANCY

Ante- and postpartum noninvasive 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements were performed in 24 patients with preeclampsia or HELLP-Syndrome. In contrast to normotensive pregnancy displaying a significant decline of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, preeclamptic women demonstrated significantly elevated blood pressure profiles before delivery that remained elevated up to the fourth week post partum. 6 of 8 patients with severe preeclampsia and 5 of 6 with HELLP-syndrome showed a nocturnal increase of blood pressure within the first week post partum and a non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure up to the fourth week after delivery. In preeclamptic women blood pressure control should be extended into the night and a antihypertensive therapy should include a sufficient evening dose up to the fourth week post partum.