The hypertensive syndromes of pregnancy cause expressive maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. There is no accurate information on the incidence of preeclampsia (PE), but it is estimated to affect 4% of gestations. In Brazil, the incidence of PE is 1.5 %, while the incidence of eclampsia is 0.6%.1 More developed areas have an incidence of eclampsia of 0.2%, with a maternal death rate of 0.8%, while for less favored regions those indices are 8.1% and 22%, respectively.2 A population-based study shows AH in 7.5% of the gestations in Brazil, with 2.3% of PE and 0.5% of superimposed PE.3 Arterial hypertension during pregnancy accounts for 20% to 25% of all causes of maternal death, and data from SUS show a trend towards stagnation.4