Treating Mild Hypertension During Pregnancy: Time for a New CHAPter!

Authors:
Timothy D. Gladwell, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP
Scott Baker, PharmD, BCPS

Reviewers:
Juliette Miller, PharmD, BCPS
Rebecca Stone, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP

Citation:
Tita AT, Szychowski JM, Boggess K, et al. Treatment for mild chronic hypertension during pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 2022;386(19):1781-1792.

The Problem

Most practitioners won’t hesitate to start drug therapy in an adult patient with chronically elevated blood pressure (BP) … except, perhaps, if the patient is pregnant. In this vulnerable population, we frequently take a “wait-and-see” approach and withhold therapy unless the BP elevations become severe. But is this the right decision? The authors of the recently published Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy (CHAP) trial¹ wanted to find out, and the results seem to be a game-changer.  The CHAP trial provides reassuring evidence about the benefits of treating mild chronic hypertension during pregnancy.