Insufficient evidence, cattle trick, and the utility of weekly laboratory monitoring

Universal, weekly (surveillance) laboratory screening for expectant management of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy has been routine practice since the release of the ACOG’s Hypertension in Pregnancy executive summary in November of 2013. This plan of care was also recommended in the ACOG Practice Bulletin 222 focused on Gestational Hypertension and Preeclmapsia. But does this actually help prevent maternal morbidity? Does routine weekly lab surveillance, detect worsening disease over clinical presentation alone? In this episode, we will summarize a new study soon to be released in the Green Journal (Obstetrics & Gynecology) which seeks to determine the clinical utility of this outpatient, antepartum management option.