A review of oral labetalol and nifedipine in mild to moderate hypertension in pregnancy.
Hypertension is the most commonly encountered medical condition in pregnancy, contributing significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Mild to moderate hypertension in pregnancy is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 90-109 mmHg (7-9% of pregnancies). When treating hypertension in pregnancy, not only do physiologic changes of pregnancy have an effect on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs used, but the pathophysiology of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy also have an effect. To date, evidence is lacking on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of commonly used antihypertensive drugs, which often times leads to suboptimal treatment of hypertensive pregnant women. When considering which agents to use for treatment of mild to moderate hypertension, specifically in gestational and chronic hypertension, oral labetalol and nifedipine are valid options. An overview of the profile for use, safety, and current pharmacokinetic data for each agent is presented here.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Route 0587, Galveston, TX 77550. Electronic address: shclark@utmb.edu.
Shannon M
SM
Clark
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Route 0587, Galveston, TX 77550.
Holly E
HE
Dunn
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Route 0587, Galveston, TX 77550.
Gary D V
GD
Hankins
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007741:Labetalol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009543:Nifedipine; D007741:Labetalol