Diagnosis and Management of Complications during Pregnancy

Dear Colleagues,

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) encompass a spectrum of conditions characterized by high blood pressure during gestation. HDPs affect approximately 10% of pregnancies globally, making them a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. HDPs can lead to maternal end-organ damage and increased cardiovascular risk that persist decades after delivery. Furthermore, the systemic endothelial dysfunction that characterizes HDPs may lead to insufficient blood flow to the placenta, which, in turn, can result in fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and, in severe cases, stillbirth. Early diagnosis and effective management are pivotal in mitigating the risks associated with HDPs. Regular blood pressure monitoring, urine analysis, and other diagnostic tools help in identifying the disorder in its early stages. Its management includes lifestyle modifications, multidisciplinary team involvement, medications, and, in severe cases, timely delivery. HDPs pose a significant threat to maternal and fetal health, and are thus a focal point for researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide. The ongoing research aims to uncover the genetic and environmental factors contributing to HDPs, develop novel diagnostic tools for early detection, and identify targeted therapies to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

In this Special Issue, we will study HDPs through the lenses of clinicians and scientists and consider what we have recently learned about biology that can bring about improvements and innovations in maternal and fetal care. We will provide a focused and in-depth exploration of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of HDPs and their short- and long-term complications, such as cardiovascular disease.

Topics will include:

• The circulating and placental biomarkers associated with HDPs;
• The pre-conceptional characteristics and pregnancy outcomes;
• The impacts of assisted reproductive techniques on HDP development and progression;
• The clinical biomarkers during pregnancy associated with HDPs and their short- and long-term complications;
• The long-term impacts of a pregnancy complicated by an HDP;
• The impacts of multidisciplinary teams in the management of a patient before, during, and after a pregnancy complicated by an HDP.

Dr. Daniela Degli Esposti
Dr. Federica Piani
Guest Editors

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• high blood pressure
• chronic hypertension
• pregnancy
• fetal growth restriction
• hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
• preeclampsia
• eclampsia
• cardiovascular disease