Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the maternal and perinatal outcome after expectant management of severe pre-eclampsia between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation. METHOD: The maternal and fetal status was monitored by an intensive, non-invasive method among 94 women with severe pre-eclampsia between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation who were scheduled for expectant management in the OICU at a tertiary care center. Pregnancy prolongation and maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality were analyzed by the Student 't' test and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The days of pregnancy prolongation and perinatal mortality were significantly higher among those managed at <30 weeks. Increasing gestational age correlated with a reduction of RDS. Maternal morbidities were significantly higher among those managed at <28 weeks. But, there was no maternal mortality. CONCLUSION: Expectant management of severe pre-eclampsia at 30-34 weeks in a tertiary care center of a developing country is associated with good perinatal outcome and risk reduction for the mother.