Prognosis

Risk of gestational hypertension or pre-eclapmsia in future pregnancies

• if a woman has had pre-eclampsia
  • risk of developing: gestational hypertension in a future pregnancy ranges from about 1 in 8 (13%) pregnancies to about 1 in 2 (53%) pregnancies
    
    
  • risk of pre-eclampsia in a future pregnancy is up to about 1 in 6 (16%) pregnancies
    
    
  • risk of pre-eclampsia if pre-eclampsia was complicated by severe pre-eclampsia, HELLP syndrome or eclampsia and led to birth before 34 weeks pre-eclampsia in a future pregnancy
    • is about 1 in 4 (25%) pregnancies
      
      
  • risk of pre-eclampsia is about 1 in 2 (55%) pregnancies if it led to birth before 28 weeks

If the patient becomes eclamptic (ie fitting in addition to pre-eclampsia) then there is a 50% fetal mortality associated with this condition. Fetal death may be due to hypoxia or placental separation.

Approximately 2% of women who suffer from eclampsia die as a result.

Reference:

• 1) NICE (August 2010). Hypertension in pregnancy - the management of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy