Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to covering the differential diagnosis for hypertension during the third trimester of pregnancy. This differential will be organized by disease categories.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR DISEASE CATEGORIES?
When thinking about the differential for hypertension during the third trimester of pregnancy the following disease categories come to mind:
- Placental abnormalities
- Other
WHAT ARE PLACENTAL ABNORMALITIES THAT CAN CAUSE HYPERTENSION IN THIS CONTEXT?
The following are conditions characterized by placental abnormalities which can present as hypertension during the third trimester of pregnancy:
- Preeclampsia/severe preeclampsia (can be superimposed on chronic hypertension)
- HELLP syndrome (i.e. severe preeclampsia)
- Eclampsia
WHAT ARE OTHER CASUES OF HYPERTENSION IN THIS CONTEXT?
The following are other conditions that can present as hypertension during the third trimester of pregnancy:
- Chronic hypertension (onset before 20 weeks of isolated hypertension)
- Gestational hypertension (onset after 20 weeks of isolated hypertension).
- White coat hypertension (nervous, recently walking up stairs, etc).
Page Updated: 12.04.2016