Arterial pressures in Nigerian women up to mid-pregnancy.

A group of 497 women whose pregnancies did not exceed 22 weeks and who were booked at the antenatal clinic between 1st August, 1971 and 31st January, 1972 have been included in a survey of arterial pressures in early pregnancy. The arterial pressures showed a low range and confirmed similar previous observations. The blood pressures among the primigravidae in the group were found to be lower than those of their Aberdeen counterparts. It was also found that the arterial pressures were lower than those of comparable non-pregnant women within the same community. The low arterial pressures in early pregnancy did not offer any special advantage in relation to the incidence of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, diseases known to be prevalent within the community.