Due to limited data regarding preeclampsia from the local population, the debate is still ongoing in the study setting. Hence, the current study was planned to compare the efficacy of labetalol and hydralazine for the treatment of hypertension in patients with severe preeclampsia.
As preeclampsia is associated with high perinatal mortality and morbidity, the choice of a better antihypertensive in pregnancy is still debatable. The findings of this study would help evaluate the more efficacious drug between intravenous labetalol and intravenous hydralazine in the management of severe preeclampsia. Based on this empirical evidence, practical recommendations can be developed for routine practice guidelines regarding the optimal drug choice between the two for treating severe preeclampsia and eventually to reduce perinatal mortality and morbidity for both the mother and fetus.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
132
Patients were given a 20 mg bolus dose of labetalol in 2 minutes, and blood pressure was checked after 20 minutes; if not effective, then a 40 mg dose of labetalol was given. If still no effect was seen, then 80 mg was given every 20 minutes up to a maximum dose of 300 mg, and every time blood pressure was checked after 20 minutes.
Patients were given intravenous hydralazine, 5 mg in a bolus dose, then repeated every 20 minutes as needed up to five doses; a maximum of 25 mg was given.
Sadiq Abbasi Hospital
Bahawalpur, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Treatment efficacy
The efficacy was labeled as 'yes' if a blood pressure of 140/90 was achieved, frequency of patients was noted.
Time frame: 6 hours
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