title: Beneficial effects of metolazone in a rat model of preeclampsia.
abstract: Preeclampsia is a disorder that continues to exact a significant toll with respect to maternal morbidity and mortality as well as fetal wastage. Furthermore, the treatment of this disorder has not changed significantly in 50 years and is unsatisfactory. The use of diuretics in this syndrome is controversial because there is a concern related to potential baleful effects of volume contraction leading to a possible further decrement in the perfusion of the maternal-fetal unit. Metolazone is a diuretic/antihypertensive agent, which has a therapeutic effect on blood pressure (BP) in human essential hypertension without causing a natriuresis. We administered the drug in nondiuretic doses in a rat model of preeclampsia previously developed in this laboratory. The drug reduced BP without an accompanying natriuresis. Although there was a trend toward an improvement in intrauterine growth restriction, as determined by litter size and the number of pups demonstrating malformations, the values did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that metolazone, in low dosage, is an effective antihypertensive in this rat model. These studies have implications for the treatment of the human disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA. gabriella.pridjian@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pridjian
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pridjian
authors.forename: Svitlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danchuk
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ianosi-Irimie
authors.forename: Hop V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: Jules B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Puschett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008788:Metolazone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008788:Metolazone