The effects of prophylactic management and therapeutics on hypertensive disease in pregnancy: preliminary studies
Welt, S.I.; Dorminy, J.H.; Jelovsek, F.R.; Crenshaw, M.C.; Gall, S.A.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 57(5): 557-565
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 7219904 Document Number: 171129
A controlled prospective evaluation of pregnancy complicated by chronic hypertension is proposed and preliminary data on population selection and pregnancy outcome are presented. Sixty-three women with evidence of underlying hypertensive disease were followed prospectively throughout pregnancy. Twenty-three patients were followed in a protocol of intensified prenatal care and randomized assignment of antihypertensive agents: placebo, hydralazine, or methyldopa. Forty patients were followed in high-risk pregnancy clinics. The incidence of preeclampsia in the randomized prophylactic antihypertensive group was statistically lower than that in the nonrandomized group (8.7 vs. 32.5%; P < .01). There were no other statistically significant differences between the groups. The 63 hypertensive women had a high incidence of diabetes mellitus diagnosed during pregnancy (49.2%) as compared to the general obstetric population studied (8.1%).