Outcome measures
Outcome measures were delivery with PE or GH. Data on pregnancy outcome
were collected from the hospital maternity records or the general
medical practitioners of the women. The obstetric records of all women
with chronic hypertension or pregnancy associated hypertension were
examined to determine the diagnosis of PE or
GH. Diagnosis of GH was based on
the finding of hypertension (systolic blood pressure of> 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure of> 90 mmHg on at least two occasions four hours apart
developing after 20 weeks’ gestation in previously normotensive women).
Diagnosis of PE was based on the finding of new onset hypertension or
chronic hypertension and at least one of the following: proteinuria
(≥300 mg/24h or protein to creatinine ratio > 30
mg/mmoL or > 2 + on dipstick testing), renal
insufficiency with serum creatinine >97 µmol/L in the
absence of underlying renal disease, hepatic dysfunction with blood
concentration of transaminases more than twice the upper limit of normal
(≥65 IU/L for our laboratory), thrombocytopenia (platelet count
<100,000/µL), neurological complications (e.g. cerebral or
visual symptoms), or pulmonary edema.28