European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICACY AND ADVERSE EFFECT OF LABETALOL AND METHYLDOPA IN PATIENTS WITH PREGNANCY - INDUCED HYPERTENSION

Srivastava B,  Usha R,  Bhardwaj R,  Gaur S,  Joshi G,  Khanchandani R.*

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Hypertension is the one of the commonest medical problem encountered during pregnancy therefore the study was done to assess the efficacy and safety of labetalol and methyldopa in controlling blood pressure in patients with pregnancy induced hypertension. Method: This Prospective randomized study was conducted at Government Medical College Haldwani on 120 patients of pregnancy induced hypertension, after 20 weeks of pregnancy and were divided in two groups of 60 each. Group A received Methyldopa 250mg thrice a day and Group B received labetelol 100mg twice a day. MAP was calculated of the two groups. The dose of the drug was doubled after 48 hours of drug therapy if the BP failed to fall. The response in BP was assessed over a period of 7 days. Observation was made as regards to fall in BP, time required to control BP, maternal and foetal outcomes and side effects of drugs. The result was statistically analysed using chi square test and student t test. Result: MAP in the two group showed significant difference after treatment with labetolol being more efficacies in controlling BP as compared to methyldopa. Significantly better maternal outcomes were seen with labetolol than with methyldopa. There was no significant difference between groups for foetal outcomes. Minor side effects were seen. Conclusion: Labetolol can be used as an effective drug to lower blood pressure in patients of PIH.

Keywords: Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH).