Table 5

Hospital management of clinically unstable mild preeclampsia at the secondary level of care Please also refer to Figure 5.

Mother
Foetus

Monitoring: The patient must be hospitalised.

Clinical
Exams as often as needed
Clinical
Exams as often as needed

Blood pressure Weight Look for CNS, renal, cardiovascular or gastrointestinal symptoms at every visit
Blood count (including platelet count)
Urinalysis (proteinuria) every 24 hours or Dipstick every eight hours
Liver Function Tests (Bilirrubin, AST, ALT)
Foetal movements
Foetal cardiac rate
Cardiotocography: No-stress testing
Ultrasonography to measure foetal growth and status of the placenta (site where the placenta is inserted and maturity) and amniotic fluid volume

Treatment
Treatment

Bed rest
Anti-hypertensives (controversial)
Methyldopa
Nifedipine
Hydralazine
Anticonvulsants: Magnesium sulphate
Induction of pulmonary maturity using dexamethasone or betamethasone in patients with gestational age less than 34 weeks.

Perez-Cuevas et al. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2003 3:6   doi:10.1186/1471-2393-3-6