ANTEPARTUM AND POSTPARTUM 24-HOUR AMBULAT ORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANCY

Ante- and postpartum noninvasive 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure mea surements were performed in 24 patients with preeclampsia or HELLP-Syn drome. In contrast to normotensive pregnancy displaying a significant decline of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, preeclamptic women d emonstrated significantly elevated blood pressure profiles before deli very that remained elevated up to the fourth week post partum. 6 of 8 patients with severe preeclampsia and 5 of 6 with HELLP-syndrome showe d a nocturnal increase of blood pressure within the first week post pa rtum and a non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure up to the fourth we ek after delivery. In preeclamptic women blood pressure control should be extended into the night and a antihypertensive therapy should incl ude a sufficient evening dose up to the fourth week post partum.