Background: Gestational hypertension is one of the major disorders that affect the mother and fetus and is the major cause of maternal and prenatal morbidity worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the general risk factors that have impact on the clinical outcome of pregnancy and to find the significant correlation between elevated blood pressure and determined laboratory parameters.

Materials & Methods: A total of 100 pregnant subjects with gestational hypertension complications from Aljala maternity hospital, Tripoli, Libya were included in this study. Age between 15-55 years (mean= 33, 4). Blood pressure was measured at the time of evaluation. All the necessary information regarding the risk factors that influence the pregnancy such as blood pressure, age, blood group, number of pregnancies, period of pregnancy were collected and documented in specific form. Different laboratory investigations were performed according to the standard protocol.

Results: older age was associated significantly with high blood pressure (p=0.005), also increased number of pregnancies was significantly correlated with elevated blood pressure (p=0.018). We found no significant relationship between gestational hypertension and type of blood group and period of pregnancy. White blood cell count, red blood cell count, hematocrit level, and uric acid concentration were significantly correlated with high blood pressure (p= 0.048, 0.041, 0.006, and0.030 respectively).