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Introduction

Globally, the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) remain significant causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and death (1­3), with lifelong health implications for surviving mothers and their infants (4-10).

While estimated to cause 30,000 maternal deaths an­nually (1), unpublished verbal autopsy data from Pakistan suggest that the root cause of an estimated 40% of the 40,000 maternal deaths currently ascribed to postpartum haemorrhage was pre-eclampsia (identified by symptoms), presumably complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation that, in turn, may have been precipitated by abruption. In addition, it is estimated that 2 million fetuses, neo­nates, and infants die annually in association with pregnancy com­plicated by pregnancy hypertension (11).

While approximately 99% of HDP-related deaths occur in less de­veloped countries (12), failures and delays in triage, transport, and treatment commonly precede maternal death in all settings (13). Therefore, an understanding of the diagnosis and management of the HDP is central to the provision of safe and effective maternity care (14, 15).

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Source: Arulkumaran S., Ledger W., Denny L., Doumouchtsis S. (eds.). Oxford Textbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Oxford University Press,2020. — 928 p.. 2020
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