A randomized prospective comparison of nifedipine and bed rest versus bed rest alone in the management of preeclampsia remote from term.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of our study was to test the hypothesis that treatment with nifedipine for mild preeclampsia remote from term reduces the number of days of maternal hospitalization and improves pregnancy outcome.

STUDY DESIGN:

A total of 200 patients at 26 to 36 weeks' gestation were randomly allocated to treatment with either bed rest alone (n = 100) or bed rest in combination with nifedipine (n = 100).

RESULTS:

Patients receiving nifedipine had significantly lower systolic (p < 0.0001) and diastolic (p < 0.0001) blood pressures during therapy. Severe hypertension as an indication for delivery was significantly (p < 0.05) more frequent in the bed-rest-alone group. The two study groups had similar average days of maternal hospitalization (12.6 +/- 7.9 vs 12.3 +/- 10.3) and pregnancy prolongation (22.3 +/- 13.5 vs 22.5 +/- 15.7). There were no differences between groups with respect to birth weight, incidences of small-for-gestational-age infants and preterm birth, number of days spent in special care unit, or cord blood gas measurement.

CONCLUSION:

Nifedipine therapy for preeclampsia reduces maternal blood pressure but does not reduce number of days of maternal hospitalization or improve perinatal outcome.

• Authors: B M Sibai, J R Barton, S Akl, C Sarinoglu, B M Mercer
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 167 Issue 4 Pt 1 Pg. 879-84 (Oct 1992) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1415419 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Nifedipine

Topics

• Bed Rest
• Blood Pressure
• Female
• Humans
• Nifedipine (therapeutic use)
• Pre-Eclampsia (complications, physiopathology, therapy)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Pregnancy Trimester, First
• Pregnancy Trimester, Second
• Prospective Studies