What is a common complication of pregnancy associated with high blood pressure?

Eclampsia is a maternal health complication that arises from severe preeclampsia, characterized by the onset of seizures or convulsions in a woman who has developed preeclampsia. Preeclampsia itself is a condition marked by high blood pressure and often protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy, which can lead to serious, even life-threatening complications for both the mother and the fetus.

When preeclampsia progresses to eclampsia, the severity increases significantly, making it a critical concern in obstetric care. The development of seizures in eclampsia can cause various severe complications, including the risk of stroke, cerebral edema, and other serious neurological conditions. This association of eclampsia with high blood pressure emphasizes the importance of monitoring maternal health during pregnancy to prevent and manage hypertension effectively.

While other conditions mentioned, such as gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are related to high blood pressure in pregnancy, eclampsia specifically represents the most severe form and a direct complication that arises from the progression of preeclampsia, highlighting the urgency and critical nature of managing these conditions in pregnant patients.