Figure 1.
Spectrum of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and their prevalence. Gestational hypertension is defined by new-onset elevations in blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) after 20 weeks of gestation, whereas preeclampsia is also accompanied by proteinuria and/or end-organ dysfunction. Chronic hypertension is present prior to 20 weeks of gestation or continues >12 weeks into the postnatal period and can occur in concert with preeclampsia. Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome is classified as a subset of preeclampsia, and eclampsia is a complication of preeclampsia characterized by the addition of seizures.