90 mmHg diastolic. 110 mmHg, using sublingual nifedipine 10 mg or intravenous hydralazine 5 mg boluses. If this fails sodium nitroprusside should be used and delivery effected quickly. Convulsion prophylaxis is required when there is evidence of central nervous system involvement, ie. Coagulation abnormalities are uncommon but should be corrected with fresh frozen plasma.
Volume expansion remains a controversial area of management.
In severe pre-eclampsia, the plasma volume is likely to be contracted. In general, it must be remembered that the best treatment of severe pre-eclampsia is delivery of the placenta. This should be effected quickly but the best outcomes are obtained when the pre-eclamptic woman has been adequately prepared for delivery, as outlined above. Extracellular fluid volumes in pregnancy-induced hypertension. Coagulation screening before epidural analgesia in pre-eclampsia.