ABSTRACT
It has been suggested that pre-eclamptic women with a low CPP should have their BP reduced and the cerebral vasculature dilated to reduce ischaemic damage. Nifedipine would be appropriate. In contrast, in patients with a high CPP the mechanism of cerebral damage is overperfusion leading to a hypertensive encephalopathy. These women therefore need to have the BP reduced without cerebral vasodilatation, which could increase hyperperfusive damage, and a beta-blocker such as labetalol may be the optimal pharmaceutical agent. Such management principles have not yet been the subject of detailed study.
