Which category of hypertensive disorders most likely reflects a patient with elevated blood pressures postpartum?

The category of hypertensive disorders that most likely reflects a patient with elevated blood pressures postpartum is gestational hypertension. Gestational hypertension specifically refers to high blood pressure that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy and resolves after delivery. While it can occur during pregnancy, it may also manifest in the immediate postpartum period, making it highly relevant in this context.

On the other hand, preeclampsia is a condition characterized by high blood pressure and often proteinuria that occurs during pregnancy. If the symptoms continue postpartum, it may indicate a progression or a severe form of the disorder. Chronic hypertension represents high blood pressure that existed prior to pregnancy or diagnosed before the 20th week and is not primarily linked to the postpartum period itself. Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia describes a situation where a woman with pre-existing hypertension develops preeclampsia, which again would be more complex and does not isolate the postpartum condition as clearly as gestational hypertension does.

In summary, gestational hypertension most directly correlates with elevated blood pressures postpartum, as it can arise during pregnancy and still be present immediately after delivery.