title: Nifedipine versus labetalol in the treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies affected by hypertensive disorders treated with nifedipine versus labetalol.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study in hypertensive patients treated during pregnancy with nifedipine or labetalol was conducted. After the charts review the patients were divided in the four groups: gestational hypertension (113 patients); mild preeclampsia (77 patients); severe preeclampsia (31 patients); HELLP syndrome (21 patients). The pregnancy and neonatal records were analyzed by paired and unpaired t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that there was an higher rate of intrauterine growth restriction infants among women treated with labetalol compared with those treated with nifedipine (38.8 vs. 15.5 %; p < 0.05), but only in the subgroup of women affected by Gestational Hypertension and Mild Preeclampsia. In this group was also higher the rate of fetal worsening assessed by fetal heart rate tracing (33.3 vs. 14.2 %; p < 0.05). No neonatal malformations and no differences in the rate of adverse side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antihypertensive therapy in pregnancy with Labetalol may have the potential to impair fetal behavior in low degrees hypertensive diseases of pregnancy. Optimal care must balance the potentially conflicting risks and benefits to mother and fetus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, "G. Salesi" Hospital via F. Corridoni 11, 60123, Ancona, Italy. s.giannubilo@univpm.it
authors.forename: Stefano R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Giannubilo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bezzeccheri
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.forename: Giovanna I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Battistoni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tranquilli
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine; D007741:Labetalol