Gestational hypertension was defined as an intrapartum systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mm Hg. Severe preeclampsia was diagnosed in women with hypertension who had at least 1 of the following: blood pressure more than 160/110 mm Hg, serum creatinine more than 1.0 mg%, platelet count less than 100,000/ L, serum aspartate aminotransferase level at least twice the upper normal value, persistent headache or scotomata, 2 or greater proteinuria, or more than 2 g of protein excreted in 24 hours