Gestational hypertension is defined as which of the following?

Gestational hypertension is defined as which of the following?

• A. Hypertension before 20 weeks gestation
• B. Hypertension with proteinuria after 20 weeks
• C. Hypertension during labor
• D. New onset blood pressure >140/90 after 20 weeks gestation with no proteinuria, edema, or end-organ dysfunction

Answer: (D)

Gestational hypertension is defined by new-onset high blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation without proteinuria or signs of end-organ dysfunction. The key is timing after 20 weeks combined with absence of proteinuria and end-organ damage. If proteinuria appears after 20 weeks, the condition is classified as preeclampsia rather than gestational hypertension. Hypertension that starts before 20 weeks would suggest chronic hypertension. Edema alone isn’t diagnostic for these conditions, so its presence or absence doesn’t define gestational hypertension.

Gestational hypertension is defined by new-onset high blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation without proteinuria or signs of end-organ dysfunction. The key is timing after 20 weeks combined with absence of proteinuria and end-organ damage. If proteinuria appears after 20 weeks, the condition is classified as preeclampsia rather than gestational hypertension. Hypertension that starts before 20 weeks would suggest chronic hypertension. Edema alone isn’t diagnostic for these conditions, so its presence or absence doesn’t define gestational hypertension.