Chronic hypertension in pregnancy.

Hypertension is the most common medical disorder during pregnancy. Chronic hypertension is a serious medical complication in pregnancy with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Those who develop uncontrolled severe hypertension, those with target organ damage, and those who are poorly compliant with prenatal visits are at high risk for poor perinatal outcome. Maternal complications include abruptio placenta, stroke, and superimposed pre-eclampsia. Fetal complications include prematurity, low birth weight, and perinatal death. Careful antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum management of women with high-risk chronic hypertension in pregnancies may reduce morbidity and mortality.