Potential applications of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in obstetric practice
Abstract
Blood pressure control plays an important role in pregnancy management, as blood pressure levels may fluctuate throughout the day for various reasons. To provide a rationale for prescribing pharmacotherapy and determining pregnancy management strategies, it is essential to obtain objective data on blood pressure changes. The aim of this review was to summarize the scientific data on the use of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in obstetric practice. The review is based on an analysis of publications retrieved through a selective search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and RSCI databases. Evidence shows that using ambulatory (daily) blood pressure monitoring in pregnant women enables the collection of accurate and reliable data on blood pressure changes, facilitates prediction of the development and course of preeclampsia, and helps prevent the unjustified use of antihypertensive drugs. At the same time, further research is needed to assess the economic feasibility of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in obstetric practice, develop preventive treatment strategies for hypertension in pregnant women, and design devices that are as convenient as possible for patients.