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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hypertensive disorders are among the most common causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. Mild and uncomplicated chronic hypertension has a better prognosis than preeclampsia. The primary aims of therapy are to prevent cerebrovascular complications and to avoid the progression of chronic hypertension into superimposed preeclampsia with worse prognosis. In mild courses of the disease bedrest, whether at home or in the hospital, is commonly recommended. A special diet is not required neither for prevention nor for therapy. This also applies for the use of aspirin. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy seems to be effective in reducing the risk of hypertension and to a smaller extent of preeclampsia. Diuretic therapy is only indicated in exceptional cases. Antihypertensive drugs are recommended, if a sustained blood pressure of diastolic > or = 110 mmHg is recorded, in cases of superimposed preeclampsia even if the diastolic blood pressure is > or = 100 (> or = 90) mmHg. alpha-Methyl-dopa is the initial drug of choice for oral antihypertensive therapy. Neither short-term effects on the fetus or neonate nor long-term effects during infancy have been reported after long-term use of alpha-methyl-dopa in pregnancy. The oral application of beta-adrenergic-antagonist drugs is well-tolerated, but should be avoided in cases of severe fetal growth retardation. Dihydralazine treatment is not suitable for oral therapy, since its medication is associated with maternal side effects such as headache and tachycardia. Administration of drugs that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme during pregnancy is contra-indicated. Calcium-channel-blocking drugs are frequently used in the USA and in the UK as "second-line" antihypertensive medication, however there is little experience with the long-term administration of these drugs to pregnant women with hypertension. The indication for hospitalization are of particular clinical importance, since a delay in admission associated with maternal complications may lead to juridical troubles. The antihypertensive treatment is only a symptomatic therapy; the obstetrician must be aware that delivery is the ultimate cure of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. In women with mild chronic hypertension or mild preeclampsia antihypertensive therapy is unlikely to be beneficial regarding the perinatal results, while in severe forms drug therapy is mandatory to avoid life-threatening maternal complications.
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PMID:[Treatment of hypertensive diseases in pregnancy--general recommendations and long-term oral therapy]. 949 43

Hypertension is the most common medical complication of pregnancy in South Africa and a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. At King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban, 18% of all admissions to the obstetric unit have some degree of high blood pressure. Hypertension in its most severe form produces convulsions, proteinuria, and edema and may lead to fetal and maternal death. High-risk groups for preeclampsia are teenage mothers, primigravidas, and women with a history of elevated blood pressure, previous preeclampsia, molar pregnancies, multiple pregnancies, or hydrops fetalis. Methods used to prevent preeclampsia include a low-salt diet supplemented with calcium, magnesium, zinc, fish, and pharmacological manipulation. In developing countries, prevention and detection of preeclampsia is difficult since women seek antenatal care late in their pregnancies. In Durban, the average gestational age at first antenatal attendance is 28 weeks, and 80% of patients presenting with eclampsia have defaulted antenatal care. Treatment includes admission to hospital to establish the etiology of the hypertension and maternal renal function tests . Fetal condition is a sensitive index of hypertension and is judged by 1) clinical evidence of fetal growth, 2) weekly antepartum cardiotocography, and 3) ultrasonographic screening. Patients are managed according to three clinical groups: 1) those identified before 36 weeks, 2) those identified after 36 weeks, and 3) patients in hypertensive crisis. Dihydralazine is the drug of choice for imminent eclampsia. If the patients has a ripe cervix, delivery is induced with 6-8 hours. Steroid contraception use in the older hypertensive patient should be avoided because of possible development of atherosclerosis and stroke. Puerperal tubal ligations in the hypertensive patient ought to be avoided because of the risks of thromboembolic phenomena and pulmonary embolism. Methyldopa is the treatment of choice in cases of moderate to severe hypertension. Intravenous dihydralazine is relatively safe for the rapid reduction of high blood pressure.
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PMID:Coping with hypertension in pregnancy. 1234 38

The new german guidelines for the treatment of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy have some important differentiations. The aim of the new guidelines is to avoid the early premature birth and to reduce the fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. For the first time there ist the possibility and the recommendation for the prolongation of pregnancy. This means that the treatment of hypertensive disorders should start not before a blood pressure of >or=170/110 mmHg; thus the nutrition of the fetus will not be worsened and the worse perfusion of the placenta will be avoided. Further more the selection of antihypertensive treatment has changed: the first choice is not longer Dihydralazin (Nepresol) but Nifedipin (Adalat). In the treatment of HELLP-Syndrom there ist only one difference to the treatment of preeclampsia: the use of glucocorticosteroids. In the treatment of both hypertensive disorders in pregnancy there is the aim to finish the fetal lung mature induction before the delivery is planned or necessary. A new point of view in the german guidelines is the possibility of prediction and prevention of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: patients who had already a hypertensive disorder in the pregnancy before or patients who have a pathologic flow in the Art. uterinae have a significant higher risk for a preeclampsia in this pregnancy. They should receive a preventive therapy with ASS. Because of these changes in the german guidelines the prolongation of pregnancy and the reduced rate of premature birth becomes more importance and helps to avoid a high rate of neonatal mortality and morbidity.
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PMID:[Diagnosis and treatment of preeclampsia: overview of international recommendations]. 1953 11

Dihydralazine, a drug used in the treatment of chronic hypertension was found to affect the mobility of fatty acid hydrocarbon chains followed by spin-labelling technique with the use of 5-, 12- and 16-doxylstearate. The effect of this drug on the membrane bilayer properties may result either from the reduction of the number of double bonds in fatty acid hydrocarbon chains, as was shown by the changes of d1/d and order parameters in the region of C(12) or from direct interactions of the drug with the polar head group region of the phospholipids as was shown by changes in the distance between nitroxyl groups without changes of the order parameter in the region of C(5).
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PMID:Effect of dihydralazine on the fluidity of erythrocyte membranes. 1985 85

During pregnancy, the maternal, placental and fetal physiological characteristics constantly evolve and thereby constantly alter drug bioavailability in the mother and feto-placental unit. Gastric emptying time is increased and bowel movements are reduced. Distribution in the maternal body is mainly influenced by body mass variations, water content and fat stores. Metabolic capacity of the liver appears unchanged but renal clearance of drugs is gradually increased. The placental transfer of most drugs mainly consists of passive diffusion between the maternal and fetal circulations, along their respective concentration gradients. Only the free, unbound and non-ionized fraction of the drug readily crosses the membranes. Four anti-hypertensive drugs have been granted a license for the treatment of PE since the year 2000: these are Clonidine (Catapressan), Nicardipine (Loxen+), Labetalol (Trandate), Dihydralazine (Nepressol). Dihydralazine, Labetalol and Nicardipine are not contraindicated in the breast feeding mother. The administration of a long acting Benzodiazepine during pregnancy can lead to new born intoxication of variable severity and duration. These symptoms may precede a withdrawal syndrome (hyper-excitability, tremor, gastro-intestinal upset, such as diarrhea or vomiting). Breast feeding by mothers using benzodiazepines (Nitrazepam and Midazolam) is not recommended. In France, the use of low molecular weight heparins is not recommended during pregnancy whereas in the United States, they are recommended as a prophylactic measure. Their high molecular weight prevents their diffusion across the placental membrane and therefore prevents any fetal or neonatal risk. Bromocriptine is used as an inhibitor of lactation. During the post-partum period, serious accidents have been described: these consist of systemic hypertension, fits, infarcts (cardiac and neurological). It is contraindicated in case of systemic hypertension.
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PMID:[Drugs during preeclampsia. Fetal risks and pharmacology]. 2034 63


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