The influence of maternal age on pregnancy outcome in patients with early onset, severe pre-eclampsia.

Pregnancy outcomes of women in three age categories, < or = 19, 20-34 and > or = 35 years, who underwent expectant management of early onset, severe pre-eclampsia were evaluated. This formed part of a prospective study involving 340 selected women from April 1992 to March 1997. Frequent monitoring of maternal and fetal status in a high-care obstetric ward was performed. Main outcome measures were major maternal complications, prolongation of gestation and perinatal outcome. Pregnancy was prolonged by a comparable number (10, 9 and 12) of days in the groups. Placental abruption was the most frequent major maternal complication, occurring more often in the youngest group (P=0.04). Women in this group also had the highest perinatal mortality and more often required anti-hypertensive medication at discharge (P<0.001). Younger women (< or = 19 years) appear to be at higher risk for maternal and perinatal complications.