What is the recommended first-line treatment for a patient experiencing pre-eclampsia?

Administering magnesium sulfate is the recommended first-line treatment for a patient experiencing pre-eclampsia, especially when there is a risk of progression to severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia (seizures). Magnesium sulfate acts as a neuroprotective agent to help prevent seizures, which accompany severe forms of pre-eclampsia. The administration of magnesium sulfate has been shown to effectively reduce the incidence of seizures in these patients, making it a critical intervention in the management of pre-eclampsia.

While controlling hypertension is also important in the management of pre-eclampsia, the immediate focus should be on seizure prevention, which magnesium sulfate directly addresses. Other supportive measures, like providing IV fluids or initiating labor induction, may be necessary depending on the clinical scenario, but they do not target the risk of seizures as effectively as magnesium sulfate does. Therefore, in the context of managing pre-eclampsia, the priority established by clinical guidelines is the prevention of seizures with magnesium sulfate.