REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS It remains unclear whether antihypertensive drug therapy for mild-moderate hypertension during pregnancy is worthwhile
BACKGROUND Mild-moderate hypertension during pregnancy is common .
Antihypertensive drugs are often used in the belief that lowering blood pressure will prevent progression to more severe disease , and thereby improve outcome .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of antihypertensive drug treatments for women with mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy .
TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY WITH METHYLDOPA: BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AND SIDE EFFECTS
A total of 242 women with moderate hypertension in pregnancy completed a controlled trial of methyldopa ( Aldomet ) . The hypotensive effect of methyldopa was similar to its action in non‐pregnant individuals and greatly reduced the frequency of severe hypertension occurring antenatally and in labour . As pregnancy advanced , an increasing daily dose of methyldopa was needed and there was a greater use of additional hypotensive therapy . Seventeen ( 14·5 per cent ) women assigned to methyldopa had to be transferred to another drug or had to stop treatment completely because of minor side effects , of which the commonest were lack of energy and dizziness . No serious side effects were encountered . Nine per cent of the untreated women developed severe hypertension which required treatment later in their pregnancies . Six weeks after delivery , nearly all the patients were able to stop
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS It remains unclear whether antihypertensive drug therapy for mild-moderate hypertension during pregnancy is worthwhile
BACKGROUND Mild-moderate hypertension during pregnancy is common .
Antihypertensive drugs are often used in the belief that lowering blood pressure will prevent progression to more severe disease , and thereby improve outcome .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of antihypertensive drug treatments for women with mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy .