Low-dose dopamine for women with severe pre-eclampsia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are important causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The long-term outcome of surviving mothers will depend largely on whether intracranial haemorrhage or renal failure developed. Low-dose dopamine is used for the prevention and treatment of acute renal failure, but its role in the management of pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia is unclear.

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the effects of low-dose dopamine used for oliguria in severe pre-eclampsia on mothers and their children.

SEARCH STRATEGY:

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (June 2006).

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Randomised trials comparing low-dose dopamine (dosages not higher than 5 microgram/kg/minute) with either placebo or no dopamine in women with severe pre-eclampsia and acute renal failure, or who are considered to be at risk of acute renal failure.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:

The two review authors assessed trial quality and data independently.

MAIN RESULTS:

Only one randomised placebo controlled trial of six hours' duration, including 40 postpartum women, was found. This study showed a significant increase in urinary output over six hours in women receiving dopamine. It is unclear if this was of any benefit to the women.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:

It is unclear whether low-dose dopamine therapy for pre-eclamptic women with oliguria is worthwhile. It should not be used other than in prospective trials.

• Authors: D W Steyn, P Steyn
• Journal: The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Cochrane Database Syst Rev) Issue 1 Pg. CD003515 (Jan 24 2007) ISSN: 1469-493X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 17253491 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review, Systematic Review)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agents
• Dopamine

Topics

• Dopamine (administration & dosage)
• Dopamine Agents (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Pre-Eclampsia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Pregnancy
• Urination