Chronic hypertension treatment in pregnancy improves fetal and maternal outcomes: Study

Egypt: The use of antihypertensive drug labetalol in pregnant women with chronic hypertension, was associated with higher rates of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal hypotension, and higher rates of SGA, suggests a recent study. According to the study, published in the journal Hypertension in Pregnancy, treatment of mild to moderate chronic hypertension during pregnancy is beneficial for reducing both fetal and maternal morbidity.

Mohamed Rezk, Menoufiya University, Shibin Al Kawm, Egypt, and colleagues assessed the fetal and maternal outcome in women with mild to moderate chronic hypertension on antihypertensive drug (methyldopa or labetalol) therapy compared to no medication.

The multicenter randomized clinical study included 486 pregnant women wit mild to moderate chronic hypertension. They were randomized into three groups: methyldopa group (n = 164), labetalol group (n = 160), and control or no medication group (n = 162). They were followed from the beginning of the pregnancy till the end of  puerperium to record maternal and fetal outcome.