A new research conducted by the China Medical University in Taiwan published in Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that pregnant women who develop hypertension during pregnancy (gestational hypertension) are at a higher risk of chronic kidney diseases and also will have the risk of the type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the long run. A Norwegian study also showed similar results and pointed that hypertension during pregnancy might increase the risk of end stage renal disease.
Gestational hypertension is also referred as preeclampsia; it is developed around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Blood pressure in those women was found to be higher than 140/90 of mercury, and affects 5 to 10 per cent of the pregnant women. There is no specific treatment for this; premature delivery in severe cases and appropriate care for both mother and new-born can limit the negative effects. Severe preeclampsia with blood pressure higher than 160/110, oedema and high amounts of protein in urine was found to be one of the three causes of the pregnancy deaths, according to the world health organisation.
An analysis which compared women with hypertensive disorders during their first pregnancy and women without any complications in their first pregnancy showed that women with hypertensive disorders are 12.4 times at a higher risk of an end-stage kidney disease.
Preeclampsia test is a screening blood test for the presence of specific metabolites whose presence indicates the risk of preeclampsia in the pregnant women before the symptoms arise. This test warns the patient beforehand and can reduce the risk of future complications and might also reduce maternal deaths through proper surveillance and care.
Researchers conclude that regular follow-up of their blood pressure after pregnancy can help them prevent chronic kidney diseases and associated complications.
