Precise classification of the various hypertensive disorders
of pregnancy has remained challenging due to
changing nomenclature as well as to the geographic variation
in accepted diagnostic criteria. For example, terms
such as “toxemia” and“pregnancy-induced hypertension”
are now considered outdated. Furthermore, varying
diagnostic criteria are used in different regions of theworld, with disagreement about the degree of hypertension,
the presence/absence of proteinuria, and the categorization
of disease severity.These inconsistencies have
led to challenges in comparing and generalizing epidemiologic
and other research findings