CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKADE (ISRADIPINE) IN TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION INPREGNANCY - A RANDOMIZED PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study the effects of isradipine, a dihyd ropyridine calcium channel blocker, on mother and fetus in the treatme nt of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: The investiga tion was performed as a two-group, parallel, double-blind multicenter study of isradipine versus placebo. Fifty-four women were randomized t o treatment with isradipine slow-release capsules given orally 5 mg tw ice a day and 57 to a placebo group. RESULTS: Isradipine lowered the m aternal mean arterial blood pressure effectively in women with nonprot einuric hypertension but did not do so in women with proteinuria at re cruitment or appearing during treatment. Blood flow in the umbilical a rtery and maternal renal and liver function were not influenced by tre atment. Isradipine had few side effects and was well tolerated. CONCLU SION: Calcium channel blockade with isradipine is effective for treatm ent of nonproteinuric hypertension but not in preeclampsia.