Long-term prognosis in gestational arterial hypertension

Abstract

The study is devoted to long-term prognosis in women with gestational arterial hypertension (GAH) in anamnesis. A retrospective epidemiological study of GAH clinical importance in women with essential AH was performed. In AH group, more than 50 % women had GAH syndrome in anamnesis. As a rule (45 %), this syndrome included chronic AH (AH before pregnancy or diagnosed before 20 weeks of gestation). Low birthweight in children predicted AH risk in their mothers. Inpatients with AH and GAH syndrome, the clinical course was more severe (higher risk of target organ damage, early cerebrovascular complications, coronary heart disease) than in AH patients without GAH syndrome. In AH/GAH women, genetic factors were less important than in AH women without GAH. More than a half of GAH patients (62,3 % ) received anihypertensive therapy. The latter did not affect significantly obstetric complication risk, labor outcome, and long-term prognosis in women. Only 34 % of GAH patients received an advice to continue the cardiologic follow-up after birthgiving. GAH syndrome should be considered as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Women with GAH should be in focus of cardiologists' special attention, even if blood pressure level normalized post-partum. Such patients require regular medical examination and active cardiovascular prevention.