Automated blood pressure measurement as a predictor of proteinuric pre-eclampsia

Abstract

To investigate the relation between antenatal clinic, obstetric day unit and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements and 24-hour proteinuria levels in hypertensive pregnancies. An observational study. Forty-eight women presenting with new hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation. The closest relation was found between ambulatory blood pressure measurements and 24-hour proteinuria levels. No significant relation was found between the conventional diastolic blood pressure threshold of 90 mmHg and 24-hour proteinuria levels. Ambulatory blood pressure measurement gives better information about disease status in pre-eclampsia as assessed by proteinuria than does conventional sphygmomanometry.