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 .
A PROSPECTIVE CONTROLLED TRIAL OF METOPROLOL‐HYDRALAZINE TREATMENT IN HYPERTENSION DURING PREGNANCY
Abstract . in an open , controlled trial , treatment with a combination of metoprolol and hydralazine was compared with non‐pharmacological management of mild and moderate hypertension in pregnancy . One hundred and sixty‐one women participated in the study . the drug‐treated group showed significantly better blood pressure control than the group not given antihypertensives .  Induction of labor before term , because of maternal or fetal complications , was somewhat more frequent in the control group . Nine women in the treatment group and 5 in the control group developed albuminuria . Three infants in the drug‐treated group died perinatally , and one in the control group . the outcome for the newborns was similar in both groups concerning birth weight , head circumference and Apgar score and in the frequencies of respiratory distress , bradycardia and hypoglycemia . the better blood pressure control achieved with these drugs makes it possible to treat the patient at home and reduce the risk of emergency delivery , but treatment does not seem to be m and atory for a good outcome of the pregnancy in cases of mild and moderate hypertension during pregnancy
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 .