Pre-eclampsia is a condition that usually develops late in pregnancy and is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Because pre-eclampsia can progress to eclampsia, characterized by seizures, the anticonvulsant magnesium sulfate is typically administered. In this patient, the magnesium sulfate would be effective if there were no seizures. Magnesium sulfate is not an antihypertensive, so it would have no effect on blood pressure or on the development of end-organ damage. Magnesium sulfate is also not administered to induce labor.