Use of nifedipine in the hypertensive diseases of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To review the available data about the use of nifedipine to treat hypertension in pregnancy.


METHODS
All English language cases and studies published after 1984 and indexed in MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica, and BIOSIS PREVIEWS under the headings nifedipine, hypertension in pregnancy, uteroplacental blood flow, maternal/fetal hemodynamics, preeclampsia, and pregnancy outcome.


METHODS
The primary outcome indicators included the safety and antihypertensive efficacy of nifedipine in pregnancy; the effects of nifedipine on maternal/fetal hemodynamics; and the effect, if any, of nifedipine on perinatal outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Tradiational drug therapy choices for hypertension in pregnancy continue to be hydralazine for acute reduction of blood pressure and methyldopa for the management of chronic hypertension. Current data indicate that nifedipine is an appropriate second-line antihypertensive medication in pregnancy, but more clinical trials are needed before it can be considered an appropriate choice for initial therapy. As do other antihypertensive agents, nifedipine provides maternal benefit by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cerebral hemorrhage and end-organ damage. However, perinatal benefit of nifedipine remains to be established.
Levin
A C
AC
Hillcrest Hospital, Pittsfield, MA.
Doering
P L
PL
Hatton
R C
RC
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006830:Hydralazine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D006830:Hydralazine; D009543:Nifedipine