The treatment of hypertension in pregnancy

SummaryThe rationale for the drug treatment of severe maternal hypertension occurring concurrently with or induced by pregnancy is discussed. Methyldopa is the antihypertensive agent most commonly used at present in pregnancy but recently the use of beta-blocking drugs and the combined alpha-blocker and beta-blocker labetalol has been advocated. Interim results from 74 patients in an ongoing randomized trial comparing methyldopa (1. 0 to 4.0 g/day) with labetalol (0.3 to 1.2 g/day) indicate that the two drugs have an equivalent antihypertensive effect and both cause side-effects. There is no evidence that either drug significantly altered the progression of established pre-eclampsia.