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 .
Randomised controlled trial of methyldopa and isradipine in preeclampsia – effects on uteroplacental and fetal hemodynamics
This is a prospect i ve r and omised controlled study in 21 women admitted with preeclampsia in the third trimester . The mean arterial blood pressure decreased by 11.1 mmHg ( 95 % confidence interval -14.9 to -7.3 mmHg ) in the methyldopa group , and by 9.3 mmHG ( 95 % confidence interval-14.4 to -4.2 mmHG ) in the isradipine group . The maternal heart rate decreased by 6.9 beats per min ( 95 % confidence interval -11.6 to -2.2 bpm ) during methyldopa treatment , and by 2.5 beats per min ( 95 % confidence interval -9.2 to 4.3 ) during isradipine treatment . Pulsatility index in maternal and fetal vessels was not affected by either of the two drugs . The birth weight and placental weight and neonatal outcome were similar and uneventful . The hypotensive effect was similar for methyldopa and isradipine . Except reduced maternal heart rate on methyldopa , fetal and uteroplacental hemodynamics were not altered during treatment of preeclampsia with methyldopa or isradipine
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 .