Management of pre-eclampsia.

The article looks at pre-eclampsia, which is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Pregnant women should have regular assessments of their blood pressure and urinary analysis for proteinuria. Women with high risk should be referred for specialist antenatal care. Low dose aspirin decreases the risk of pre-eclampsia and of baby death. For mild to moderate hypertension, antihypertensive drugs may prevent a hypertensive crisis. Magnesium sulphate halves the risk of eclampsia. INSET: Patients' stories.