European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in both the mother and fetus. The present study was conducted to compare labetalol and nifedipine in the management of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
Materials & Methods: 72 pregnant between the ages of with hypertension were divided into two groups Was this a blind study? Oral Labetalol was initially started at a dose of 100 mg twice daily (BD) and a maximum dose of 200 mg thrice daily (TDS) was given. Oral What type of Nifedipine? XR, regular? was initially started with a dose of 10 mg BD and titrated upwards to 20 mg TDS.  Pregnant subjects were monitored daily for blood pressure and fetal well- being.    
Results: Group I received 100 mg labetalol and group II received 10 mg Nifedipine. Gravida I patients were noted to have 62% and 60%, Gravida 2, 24% and 27%, and Gravida 3 14% and 13% reduction in group I and group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). SBP (mm Hg) before treatment was 153.4 and 152.4 and after treatment was 126.8 and 138.2 in group I and group II respectively. DBP (mm Hg) before treatment was 104.2 and 106.4 and after treatment was 90.5 and 99.2. MAP (mm Hg) before treatment was 120.2 and 122.6 and after treatment was 101.5 and 112.8 in group I and group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Labetalol proved to be a better antihypertensive than nifedipine in controlling maternal hypertension and fetal outcome. This effect was significant in systolic blood pressure control compared to diastolic blood pressure control ( p < .05) and (p <.12). This difference was also remarkable in terms of parity as shown in the chart comparing Gravida 1, 2 & 3.