Growth and development at the age of 1.5 years in children with maternal hypertension.

To determine the effect of maternal hypertension additional to intrauterine growth retardation and prematurity, the growth and development of 58 preterm and 143 full-term children of hypertensive mothers was evaluated at 1.5 years of corrected age. The results were compared with 128 preterm and 175 full-term children of normotensive mothers, respectively. Children with intrauterine growth retardation were examined separately from those without. Growth was similar between index and control pairs of groups but was delayed in preterm children born to pre-eclamptic mothers. Developmental differences were found between the index and control groups, but the only children clearly at developmental risk were those born prematurely to pre-eclamptic mothers, and those born prematurely with IUGR irrespective of aetiology. Generally the outcome of children of hypertensive mothers was good.