Women with chronic hypertension are at increased risk for preeclampsia and eclampsia, both of which may endanger the mother and her baby. Throughout pregnancy, women with chronic hypertension are monitored for signs of preeclampsia, specifically proteinuria (protein in the urine) and edema (excessive swelling).
If proteinuria accompanies worsening hypertension in a pregnant woman with chronic hypertension, she is diagnosed with superimposed preeclampsia . Approximately 15 to 25 percent of women with chronic hypertension develop superimposed preeclampsia. Often, superimposed preeclampsia develops earlier in pregnancy than preeclampsia in women without chronic hypertension. Superimposed preeclampsia also tends to be quite severe and is often accompanied by fetal growth restriction. Management of superimposed preeclampsia is similar to the management of preeclampsia.
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