Use of Antihypertensive Drugs During Preeclampsia.

Obinnaya Odigboegwu,Lu J Pan,Piyali Chatterjee

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2018.00050

Abstract

Treatment of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia (PE), remain a challenging problem in obstetrics. Typically, aggressive antihypertensive drug treatment options are avoided to prevent pharmacological-induced hypotension. Another major concern of administering antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy is possible adverse fetal outcome. In addition, management of hypertension during pregnancy in chronic hypertensive patients or in patients with prior kidney problems are carefully considered. Recent studies suggest that PE patients are at increased cardiovascular risk postpartum. Therefore, these patients need to be monitored postpartum for the subsequent development of other cardiovascular diseases. In this review article, we review the antihypertensive drugs currently being used to treat patients with PE and the advantages or disadvantages of using these drugs during pregnancy.

Highlights

Preeclampsia (PE) is a clinical entity characterized by either the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria or end organ damage after 20 weeks of gestation
For women with chronic/ preexisting hypertension who have proteinuria prior to or in early pregnancy, a sudden exacerbation of hypertension or a need to increase antihypertensives, especially when blood pressure was previously controlled on these medications, will lead to a diagnosis of superimposed preeclampsia
The oral version of hydralazine can be used to treat hypertension associated with preeclampsia

Summary

Use of Antihypertensive Drugs During Preeclampsia

Treatment of pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia (PE), remain a challenging problem in obstetrics. Aggressive antihypertensive drug treatment options are avoided to prevent pharmacological-induced hypotension. Another major concern of administering antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy is possible adverse fetal outcome. Recent studies suggest that PE patients are at increased cardiovascular risk postpartum. These patients need to be monitored postpartum for the subsequent development of other cardiovascular diseases. We review the antihypertensive drugs currently being used to treat patients with PE and the advantages or disadvantages of using these drugs during pregnancy

Introduction

PE Subgroup

May be increased at labetalol nifedipine

Management of Hypertension

Findings

Conclusions