Hypertension during pregnancy is a condition of increased blood pressure in pregnant women. A pregnant woman is more susceptible to hypertension if she has risk factors for hypertension during pregnancy. These include being over 40 years old, being pregnant for the first time, having been pregnant multiple times with a history of preeclampsia, carrying multiple fetuses (more than one fetus), having diabetes mellitus, having chronic hypertension, having kidney disease, or being obese before becoming pregnant.

Hypertension in pregnancy is characterized by blood pressure readings of 140/90 mmHg or higher in women who either did not have hypertension before becoming pregnant or had pre-existing hypertension. Blood pressure checks are done twice, with a minimum interval of 4 hours between measurements. Hypertension in pregnancy can also evolve into conditions of preeclampsia-eclampsia, which is hypertension in pregnancy after 20 weeks of gestation accompanied by one or more of the following conditions:
   1. Protein in the urine
   2. Organ function disturbances
   3. Restricted fetal growth

Pregnant women with preeclampsia-eclampsia may experience symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, upper abdominal pain, reduced platelet counts, kidney dysfunction, liver dysfunction, fluid accumulation in the lungs, seizures, and even loss of consciousness. Therefore, it's essential for pregnant women to routinely undergo prenatal examinations concerning hypertension during pregnancy.

Author: Dr. Syahni Wirdani Pulungan, M.Ked (Clin-Path), Sp.PK (Responsible Doctor for the PRAMITA Clinical Laboratory Branch, Jl. Plaju No. Palembang)