title: The effect of serotonergic blockade in postpartum preeclamptic patients.
abstract: Thirty postpartum preeclamptic patients from the University of South Florida Obstetrical Service were enrolled in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study to test the effectiveness of ketanserin in lowering the blood pressure. An intravenous bolus of ketanserin resulted in a significant drop in the mean arterial blood pressure. The decrease in the blood pressure could be maintained by a continuous infusion of ketanserin. Hypertension returned after the medication was discontinued. These observations suggest that ketanserin, a selective blocker of type II serotonin receptors, may be effective in acutely reducing elevated postpartum blood pressure in preeclamptic patients, and that serotonin may play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, but not be important as a mediator in the severity of the disease.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Knuppel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007650:Ketanserin; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D007650:Ketanserin