Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health after pre-eclampsia: the Motherhealth prospective cohort study protocol.

Introduction: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) are the leading cause of maternal mortality in the first year after delivery. Women whose pregnancies were complicated by pre-eclampsia are at particularly high risk for adverse events. In addition, women with a history of pre-eclampsia have higher risk of CCVD later in life.

[Hypertension in pregnancy].

Hypertension affects approximately 10% of all pregnancies and may jeopardize maternal and fetal health. Chronic hypertension must be distinguished from pre-eclampsia, that can be associated with a bad outcome. An antihypertensive treatment is advocated when systolic blood pressure is > or = 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure is > or = 110 mmHg.