Clinical management of hypertension in pregnancy. Practical recommendations from the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA).

Hypertensive disorders of prenancy are a major cause of fetal and maternal mortality and morbididity and represent one of the commonest medical problems. Clinical management of hypertension in pregnancy should be driven not only by absolute BP levels, rather by global cardiovascular risk profile, in order to properly identify those pregnant women who require pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. When recommended, several drug classes should be preferred, among which methyldopa still represents the first choice option for lowering BP levels in moderate hypertension during pregnancy. More severe hypertension often requires combination strategies or hospital admission to delivery.