Hypertension in pregnant women: a view from the perspective of the European recommendations 2018

The problem of arterial hypertension (HTN) in pregnant women is very important due to its high prevalence and severity of consequences for the mother and fetus. In Russia, hypertension is diagnosed in 5–30% pregnant women, with the increasing trend in the past decades. HTN is a risk factor for complications, both for the mother, the fetus and newborn, so HTN remains the leading cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal mortality. HTN in pregnant women is a signifcant predictor of cardiovascular disease in the future. It is also a social problem considering the increase in the cost of treatment, i.e. related to the repeated hospitalizations after childbirth. In 2018, new European recommendations on cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy and European recommendations on HTN (the latter ones include special sections devoted to hypertension in pregnant women) were published. These recommendations provide the latest data on the classifcation, diagnosis and treatment of HTN in pregnant women. Currently, methyldopa is still the frst-line drug for the treatment of HTN in pregnant women, which has proved to be an effective and safe medication in pregnant women.