Term and preterm induction of labour for pregnancy-induced hypertension

Abstract

Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a common and potentially serious condition. Early delivery is often necessary. This study investigates the influence of gestational age and parity on the likelihood of vaginal delivery following labour induction in a UK district hospital maternity unit. The casenotes of 185 consecutive inductions for PIH between January 1997 and September 2000 were studied. Women with chronic hypertension, diabetes, multiple pregnancies or fetal death before labour were excluded. Gestational age varied between 31 and 42 weeks. Seventy-two per cent of the mothers were nulliparous; 58% had gestational hypertension (i.e. hypertension without proteinuria) and 42% had pre-eclampsia (i.e. hypertension with proteinuria). Vaginal delivery rates for nulliparous mothers with gestational hypertension were 50% at 34–36 weeks and 78% at 37–42 weeks; for those with pre-eclampsia rates were 0% at 31–33 weeks, 85% at 34–36 weeks and 78% at 37–42 weeks. Vaginal delivery rates for multiparous mothers with gestational hypertension were 100% at 31–36 weeks and 92% at 37–42 weeks; those with pre-eclampsia had a rate of 100% at all gestations.