Management of pregnancy-induced hypertension in the nulliparous patient remote from term

The goal in the management of patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension is delivery of an infant that will thrive both physically and mentally without seriously compromising maternal health. Although many therapeutic regimens have been suggested, none except delivery of the fetus has proven to arrest the hypertensive process. Increased perinatal mortality in women with hypertension is directly proportional to the time of onset as well as to the severity of the hypertension. The majority of perinatal losses are due either to maternal hypertension resulting in intrauterine death or to prematurity associated with spontaneous or induced labor.