NUTRITIONAL FACTORS AND REST REDUCE PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION AND PREECLAMPSIA IN POSITIVE ROLLOVER TEST PRIMIGRAVIDAS

OBJECTIVE: The possibility of reducing pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia in primigravidas with low doses of nutritional factor s and relative rest in the left lateral position was investigated in a randomized controlled, double-blind trial. METHOD: Seventy-four normo tensive women at 28-29 weeks' gestation, judged to be at risk of PIH o r pre-eclampsia because they presented with a mean blood pressure of 8 0 mmHg or higher and a positive roll-over test, were studied. The trea tment protocol was received by 37 women and the other 37 women receive d standard antenatal control until delivery. RESULT: Twenty-nine (78.3 %) women in the control group developed PIH and/or pre-eclampsia, as o pposed to only 4 (10.8%) cases in the treatment group (P < 0.001). The re were no adverse effects of treatment in mothers or infants. CONCLUS ION: This protocol reduces PIH and pre-eclampsia in primigravidas judg ed to be at risk of hypertension. Further studies are required to eval uate prostacyclin and prostanglandin E2 changes.