Beta-blockers appear to be no more effective and probably equally as safe .
It is unusual for women to change drugs due to side effects .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Improvement in control of maternal blood pressure with use of beta-blockers would be worthwhile only if it were reflected in substantive benefits for mother and /or baby , and none have been clearly demonstrated .
Large r and omised trials are needed to determine whether antihypertensive therapy in general ( rather than beta-blocker therapy specifically ) results in greater benefit than risk , for treatment of mild-moderate pregnancy hypertension .
BACKGROUND Antihypertensives , such as beta-blockers , are used for pregnancy hypertension in the belief these will improve outcome for mother and baby .
OBJECTIVES To assess whether oral beta-blockers are better than placebo , or no beta-blocker , and have advantages over other antihypertensives , for women with mild to moderate pregnancy hypertension .
Labetalol vs. methyldopa in the treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension.
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of labetalol compared with methyldopa in the management of mild and moderate cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension ( PIH ) . METHODS One hundred four primigravidas with PIH were r and omly allocated to receive either labetalol ( group A ) or methyldopa ( group B ) . The dose of the drugs was doubled every 48 h to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure < or = 103.6 mmHg . Clinico-biochemical effects and frequency of side effects were studied . The statistical level of significance was taken at P < 0.05 . RESULTS Ten patients in group B ( 18.5 % ) developed significant proteinuria ( > 30 mg/dl ) whereas none developed proteinuria in group A. Labetalol was quicker and more efficient at controlling blood pressure , having a beneficial effect on renal functions and causing fewer side effects compared with methyldopa . The rate of induction of labor and rate of cesarean section for uncontrolled PIH was less in group A ( 48 % and 1 % , respectively ) compared with group B ( 63.0 % and 5.6 % , respectively ) . Moreover a higher Bishop score at induction of labor was noticed in group A. CONCLUSIONS Labetalol is better tolerated than methyldopa , gives more efficient control of blood pressure and may have a ripening effect on the uterine cervix
Beta-blockers appear to be no more effective and probably equally as safe .
It is unusual for women to change drugs due to side effects .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS Improvement in control of maternal blood pressure with use of beta-blockers would be worthwhile only if it were reflected in substantive benefits for mother and /or baby , and none have been clearly demonstrated .
Large r and omised trials are needed to determine whether antihypertensive therapy in general ( rather than beta-blocker therapy specifically ) results in greater benefit than risk , for treatment of mild-moderate pregnancy hypertension .
BACKGROUND Antihypertensives , such as beta-blockers , are used for pregnancy hypertension in the belief these will improve outcome for mother and baby .
OBJECTIVES To assess whether oral beta-blockers are better than placebo , or no beta-blocker , and have advantages over other antihypertensives , for women with mild to moderate pregnancy hypertension .