[Hypertension and hypertensive emergencies in pregnancy].

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive emergencies are acute, life threatening, and usually--but not necessarily--associated with severe increases in blood pressure. In pregnancy, this is the fact in eclampsia. Eclampsia refers to the occurrence of one or more generalized convulsions in the setting of preeclampsia with proteinuria, edema, and hypertension. PATHOGENESIS: Our current understanding of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia will be reviewed here. Some major risk factors for the development are preexisting hypertension and renal disease. PREVENTION AND THERAPY: Preventive measures of preeclampsia and treatment of this specific hypertensive emergency in pregnancy are discussed.