Pathophysiology of hypertension in preeclampsia.

Introduction Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, classically it is defined as the onset or worsening of hypertension in pregnancy and proteinuria of at least 300 mg in 24 hours. It is among the most common disorders in pregnancy, affecting 8% of all pregnant women worldwide [1]. Associated with severe maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, preeclampsia can result in eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in the mother, and preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and perinatal death in the fetus [1]. Though in developed countries maternal morbidity and mortality due to preeclampsia has decreased, patients who experience are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life [1,2].