Verapamil in the treatment of severe postpartum hypertension.
The calcium antagonist verapamil was infused intravenously in 10 patients with severe postpartum gestational proteinuric hypertension. A rapid and significant fall in systolic (P less than 0.01) and diastolic (P less than 0.02) blood pressure was seen within 5 minutes and was maintained for the duration of the infusion. No significant pulse rate changes were seen during the period of maximal blood pressure decrease. The principal side-effects were cutaneous flushing and headache. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded study on the use of verapamil in postpartum gestational proteinuric hypertension and the apparent efficacy of this drug justifies further investigation.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Edendale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg.
M A
MA
Belfort
P J
PJ
Moore
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014700:Verapamil