Hydralazine was the most common drug for others to be evaluated against .
Diazoxide , given as 75 mg bolus injections , appears to be associated with maternal hypotension requiring treatment , and ketanserin is less effective than hydralazine at reducing blood pressure .
There is no other clear evidence that any one of the other antihypertensive agents is better than another for women with severe hypertension during pregnancy .
Exceptions are diazoxide and ketanserin , which are probably not good choices
BACKGROUND Very high blood pressure during pregnancy poses a serious threat to women and their babies .
The use of drugs to lower blood pressure will reduce this risk for the women , and possibly also for the baby .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to compare different antihypertensive drugs used for treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy .
Comparison of labetalol and dihydralazine in hypertensive emergencies of pregnancy.
Labetalol ( Tr and ate ; Allen & Hanburys ) , a combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agent , was compared with the more commonly used peripheral vasodilator , dihydrallazine ( Nepresol ; Ciba ) , each administered as an infusion , in the treatment of severe hypertension in 20 primigravidas at greater than or equal to 32 weeks ' gestation . With the dosage regimen used in this study there was a tendency towards more effective blood pressure control with dihydrallazine . The pulse rate was unaffected by labetalol therapy and there were no harmful effects on the neonate or fetus directly attributable to either drug
Hydralazine was the most common drug for others to be evaluated against .
Diazoxide , given as 75 mg bolus injections , appears to be associated with maternal hypotension requiring treatment , and ketanserin is less effective than hydralazine at reducing blood pressure .
There is no other clear evidence that any one of the other antihypertensive agents is better than another for women with severe hypertension during pregnancy .
Exceptions are diazoxide and ketanserin , which are probably not good choices
BACKGROUND Very high blood pressure during pregnancy poses a serious threat to women and their babies .
The use of drugs to lower blood pressure will reduce this risk for the women , and possibly also for the baby .
OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to compare different antihypertensive drugs used for treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy .