Summary
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication that involves the development of high blood pressure in a pregnant woman. Different blood pressure medications can be used to treat this condition, but not all women respond in the same way to the same medication. This is probably due to variables in the function of the maternal heart and blood vessels.
Technological developments have meant it is now possible to measure important individual aspects of maternal cardiovascular function using simple non-invasive tests. These tests can establish whether the mother's heart and circulatory system have any unusual features that may place her at higher risk of complications. Early recognition allows timely review and appropriate treatment to be started sooner, which can lower the incidence of serious manifestations of pre-eclampsia.
Routine clinical use of the available tests and the establishment of clear care pathways and defined parameters for risk assessment based on maternal heart and circulation test results, would allow targeted treatment and assist in preventing avoidable harm.
Version history
This is the first edition of this paper. Please note that the Scientific Advisory Committee regularly assesses the need to update. Further information on this review is available on request.
Developer declaration of interests
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