Management of Hypertensive Disorders During Pregnancy: Summary of NICE Guidance

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy cover a spectrum of conditions, including chronic (pre-existing) hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension (box 1). These conditions are associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Hypertensive disorders cause one in 50 stillbirths in normal babies and 10% of all preterm births. They contribute to a third of cases of severe maternal morbidity.1 Pre-eclampsia is one of the most common causes of maternal death in the United Kingdom.2 This article summarises the most recent recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on how to manage hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.3 #### Box 1 Definitions NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s experience and opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in …