CONTROLLING BLOOD PRESSURE IN SEVER HYPERTENSION DURING LABOUR: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background:Pregnancy induced hypertension with proteinuria occur in 5% of primigravidas, it remains the commonest cause of maternal mortality and substantial cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Pre-eclampsia is complex & still incompletely under?stood. Patients and methods:This prospective study had been conducted in a maternity hospital in Baghdad, between November 1993 and September 1994.Fifty women with antepartum or intrapartum diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia were invited to participate on voluntary base in this study. Those 50 cases divided randomly into two equal groups the first group treated by nefipidine and the second group was given hydralazine. Results:The first group was put on Nifedipine treatment, two (8%) of the patients given 10mg of nifedipine sublingually and only one patient (4%) required 40mg capsules to reach a safe level of blood pressure. The second group was put on Hydralazine treatment; Only 10(40%) of them required one dose (20 mg)in order to decrease their blood pressure to the safe level and 4(16%) of patients needed three doses (60 mg). Conclusion:Both drugs are efficient in controlling the BP in severe hypertension, although Nifedipine showed a more rapid onset of action and it is self-administered orally.