Expectant Management in Pregnancies with Severe Pre-eclampsia

The main objective of expectant management in women with severe pre-eclampsia (PE) remote from term is to improve neonatal outcome. Maternal conditions, however, may worsen during expectant management. This highlights the importance of balancing the risks between maternal and perinatal outcomes. Traditionally, women with severe PE remote from term are delivered expeditiously, regardless of gestational age. We here have reported several retrospective, case-control, observational, prospective, or randomized trials in which expectant management in women with severe PE was feasible in well-selected patients without prejudicing maternal safety, and we have described our rationale and guidelines for this management. Semin Perinatol 33:143-151 (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.