MATERNAL END NEONATAL OUTCOME OF PATIENTS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO THESOCIETY-FOR-THE-STUDY-OF-HYPERTENSION-IN-PREGNANCY CONSENSUS STATEMENT

Objective: To outline the maternal and perinatal features and outcome of patients referred to a tertiary referral obstetric hospital for man agement of their hypertension. Setting and patients: 205 consecutive p ublic patients admitted for assessment of hypertension (either full ad mission or day-stay) to King George V Hospital's Hypertension in Pregn ancy Unit, between February 1993 and January 1994. Design: A prospecti ve study in which patients were classified according to the Australasi an Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ASSHP) Consensu s Statement classification. Results: Of the 205 patients, 25% did not meet the criteria for preeclampsia or chronic hypertension, 33% had mi ld pre-eclampsia, 34% had severe pre-eclampsia and the remainder had c hronic hypertension. The mean gestation at delivery for those with mil d pre-eclampsia was 38.3 weeks and for severe preeclampsia 35.3 weeks. For the mild and severe groups respectively, the rate of elective del ivery for raised blood pressure was 56% and 53%; for caesarean section , 17% and 61%; and for perinatal death, 2% and 4%. In the severe group , 49% had fetal problems and 25% required intravenous antihypertensive s. Conclusions: The multisystem nature of pre-eclampsia makes comparis on of management protocols difficult. Ongoing audit is needed of mater nal and perinatal outcomes and features of disease in patients with hy pertension in pregnancy under a universal classification. The ASSHP cl assification system successfully identifies patients who require more intensive management and intervention.