Abstract
Author(s): Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Yousif*, Tagreed Hamood Hatem, Nawfal Azzo and Alaa Ghaith Ahmed
Background: NICE guidelines recommend labetalol as first-line antihypertensive therapy for gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia, while methyldopa and nifedipine are also available. Pre-existing medications and adverse effect profiles should be considered when choosing an antihypertensive therapy during pregnancy. It investigated how well oral labetalol and oral methyldopa treated hypertension in expectant women. This study aims to determine whether labetalol can be administered as a monotherapy for hypertension and to lower the danger of adverse effects, monotherapy is crucial.
Methods: Observational prospective cohort research was undertaken by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital at Medical City/Baghdad, as well as the Gynecology Clinic. As a single agent, using the maximal dosage of labetalol. A total of 60 pregnant women were separated into two groups (A, and B). Group A was given oral labetalol, whereas Group B was given oral methyldopa.
Results: A few people require the addition of additional treatment (13.3%). Methyldopa was required by almost 87% of patients, with a statistically significant (p-value of 0.02). Additionally, with a p-value of 0.13, most patients didn't require a dose modification. Methyldopa and labetalol had statistically significant side effects in patients, with 83.3% and 16.7% respectively. The mean difference in SBP and DBP post-treatment was not significant in either group. The association between type of side effect and drug is significant between using methyldopa and labetalol, with a p-value of 0.03 compared to labetalol. The time required to control BP was also significant in the labetalol group.
Conclusions: Treatment of pregnancy hypertensive disorders is correlated with decreased blood pressure levels and adverse effects.