Fetal outcome in trial of antihypertensive treatment in pregnancy.

Abstract

242 women completed a controlled trial of methyldopa ('Aldomet') for moderate hypertension in pregnancy. Active treatment was associated with a significantly improved fetal outcome, due in part to a reduced number of mid-pregnancy abortions. There were 9 pregnancy losses in the control group, which included 4 mid-pregnancy abortions, and 1 fetal loss in the treated group. The birthweight and maturity of viable infants were similar in treated and control groups, and a detailed multivariate analysis confirmed that hypotensive treatment had no effect on fetal growth in utero. The better outcome associated with treatment was not due to the prevention of pre-eclampsia, and may be partly due to a direct or indirect effect of methyldopa on uterine activity. Methyldopa is safe to use for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy in the context of close medical and obstetric supervision.

• Authors: C W Redman
• Journal: Lancet (London, England) (Lancet) Vol. 2 Issue 7989 Pg. 753-6 (Oct 09 1976) ISSN: 0140-6736 [Print] England
• PMID: 61439 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Methyldopa

Topics

• Abortion, Spontaneous (epidemiology)
• Adult
• Birth Weight
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Evaluation
• Female
• Fetal Death (epidemiology)
• Fetus (drug effects, physiology)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Growth
• Humans
• Hypertension (drug therapy)
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases (etiology, mortality)
• Methyldopa (therapeutic use)
• Pre-Eclampsia (complications, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular (drug therapy)
• Pregnancy Trimester, Second