RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF METHYLDOPA AND ISRADIPINE IN PREECLAMPSIA - EFFECTS ON UTEROPLACENTAL AND FETAL HEMODYNAMICS

This is a prospective randomised controlled study in 21 women admitted with preeclampsia in the third trimester. The mean arterial blood pre ssure decreased by 11.1 mmHg (95% confidence interval -14.9 to -7.3 mm Hg) in the methyldopa group, and by 9.3 mmHg (95% confidence interval -14.4 to -4.2 mmHg) in the isradipine group. The maternal heart rate d ecreased by 6.9 bears per min (95% confidence interval -11.6 to -2.2 b pm) during methyldopa treatment, and by 2.5 beats per min (95% confide nce interval -9.2 to 4.3) during isradipine treatment. Pulsatility ind ex in maternal and fetal vessels was not affected by either of the two drugs. The birth weight and placental weight and neonatal outcome wer e similar and uneventful. The hypotensive effect was similar for methy ldopa and isradipine. Except reduced maternal heart rate on methyldopa , fetal and uteroplacental hemodynamics were not altered during treatm ent of preeclampsia with methyldopa or isradipine.