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Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy include heterogenous collection of diseases of which preeclampsia is the commonest form. Preeclampsia is a form of hypertension that is unique to human pregnancy. The disease in its severe form is most often associated with severe and even fatal maternal and foetal complications (Sarin, 1999). Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific multisystem disorder that is characterized by the development of hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation (Wagner, 2004). Witlin and Sibai (1998) observed that the disorder complicates 5 to 7 per cent of all pregnancies. Premila (1992) has reported that the incidence of preeclampsia amongst hospital patients in India is about 7 to 10 per cent of all antenatal admissions and that of eclampsia is 0.94 to 1.80 per cent.
About the author
Dr. Jamal Zia is a family medicine doctor in Falls Church, Virginia and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Inova Alexandria Hospital and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. He received his medical degree from Santiago Univ of Technology School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
