title: Intravenous nicardipine for severe hypertension in pre-eclampsia--effects of an acute treatment on mother and foetus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy in lowering blood pressure, and the safety for mother and foetus of an acute nicardipine therapy in severe pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One university hospital obstetric unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive adult pre-eclamptic patients with severe hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nicardipine, 1 microgram/kg per min, was given intravenously to lower the mean arterial pressure (MAP) by at least 15%. Then, the dosage was reduced by 1/3, and the final dosage was determined to maintain MAP at 20-30% below the initial value, by increasing or decreasing the infusion rate by 0.5 mg/h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal MAP and heart rate (HR) were assessed every 5 min for 1 h. Foetal HR (FHR) was recorded throughout the study period and assessed for Fischer score. Gestational age, Apgar scores, birth weight, capillary filling time and the duration of stay in the paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) were used to evaluate the short-term perinatal outcome. A 15-30% decrease in MAP occurred within 15-20 min in all patients. An increase in HR was noted, and two patients had severe tachycardia. Maternal side effects included flushing, headache, nausea and dizziness. FHR showed a transient decrease in acceleration episodes and occurrence of decelerations. No nicardipine-related foetal distress occurred. Four infants born during the study period did well at birth and had a good outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute nicardipine therapy can induce severe maternal tachycardia. No severe foetal or neonatal adverse effects occurred. This dose scheme requires comparison with alternative therapeutic options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Nîmes, France. guy.aya@chu-nimes.fr
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Aya
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mangin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffet
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Eledjam
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009529:Nicardipine