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 .
Neonatal Effects of Beta‐Blocking Drugs in Pregnancy
Abstract . A review is presented as regards the neonatal effects of beta‐blocking agents in hypertension during pregnancy . Experience points to low fetal and neonatal risks , but firmly based data concerning the neonates are very scanty . An on‐going double‐blind study is presented in which pregnant women with hypertension are r and omly allocated to either metoprolol or placebo treatment . One of the aims is to study the postnatal adaptation of the infants . The following measurements , recordings and examinations are performed : anthropometric measurements , Apgar score , blood gases and acid‐base status in umbilical ( venous and arterial ) blood , lactate and hypoxanthine in umbilical venous blood , catecholamines in umbilical arterial blood , pulse rate , blood glucose and a quantitative neurobehavioral assessment in the neonatal period
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 .