The Efficacy of Hydralazine and Nifedipine in the Management of Severe Pre-Eclampsia

Abstract

Abstract

Objective:  To compare the efficacy of Hydralazine with Nifedipine in women with severe pre-eclampsia.

Design:  It is quasi experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study:  Lady Aitcheson Hos-pital (public sector hospital affiliated with King Ed-ward Medical University, Lahore) from April 2012 to September 2012.

Subject and Methods:  Sixty pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia were included in the study. They were divided in two groups A and B by using random number table.

Results:  In group A and group B, mean age was 25.9 ± 4.1 and 28.0 ± 4.6 respectively. Mean gestational age of group A was 36.7 ± 3.0 and group B was 36.7 ± 3.2 respectively. Mean diastolic blood pressure of gro-up A and group B was observed 116.0 ± 7.2 and 116.6 ± 5.1 respectively. The mean time in minutes to achi-eve effective blood pressure control in group A was 68.33 ± 15.16 and group B was 110.17 ± 43.69 (P ≤ 0.001). Sudden fall of blood pressure was observed in two patients (6.7%) of group A and five patients (16.7%) of group B (P = 0.22).

Conclusion:  The study concluded that intra venous Hydralazine is a useful antihypertensive agent compar-able to Nifedipine but with fewer side effects.

Key Words:  Proteinuria, Severe Hypertension, Pre-eclampsia, Hydralazine, Nifedipine.