The Effect of Hypertension on Fetal Growth

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Abstract
To assess the effect of hypertension on fetal growth we studied all hypertensive patients who delivered at the University Hospital “Wilhelmina Gasthuis”, Amsterdam, over a five-year period. They were studied on a retrospective basis. Patients were excluded from this study if they had a multiple pregnancy or a hydatidiform mole. Out of 7454 women who delivered after 28 weeks gestation between 1975 and 1981, 716 nulliparae (N.P.) and 489 multiparae (M.P.) had a diastolic bloodpressure of ≥ 90 mm on at least two occasions. They were matched for age and parity with a normotensive control group, who delivered at our University Hospital in the same period. The Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) infant was designated as one whose birthweight fell below 5th percentile. Only the maximum diastolic bloodpressure level proved to have an association with the incidence of SGA infants. The influence of proteinuria appeared to be of minor importance with respect to fetal growth retardation when maximum diastolic bloodpressure levels were standardized.

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