Pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, are a significant and commonly encountered group of medical disorders of pregnancy. A primary care clinician is ideally placed to screen for, diagnose and, if confident, initiate management in antenatal and postnatal women. Early involvement of maternity services is advised if a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy is suspected or diagnosed. Checking of maternal blood pressure and urinalysis should be encouraged during all routine appointments with pregnant women. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, their diagnosis and management in primary care, with a review of commonly used antihypertensive agents in current UK clinical practice.