MATERNAL OBSTETRIC OUTCOME MEASURES IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-STUDY OF LABETALOL IN THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN PREGNANCY

One hundred and fourteen pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and a diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg in the absence of proteinuria were randomly allocated to receive either labetalol or no antihypertensive agent. Both groups were stratified into primigravidae and multigravidae. There were no differences between the study groups in terms of maternal age, gestation and blood pressure at recruitment. The only statistically significant difference found was a reduction in hospital inpatient antenatal stay for labetalol treated primigravidae (mean 9.5 v. 13.6 days; p 0.02). There were no differences in the incidence of preterm delivery, mode of onset of labour or mean birthweight between treatment and control groups. Although not statistically significant there were trends suggesting a possible prolongation of pregnancy for parous patients, a reduction in emergency caesarean sections and an increase in spontaneous vaginal deliveries for labetalol treated women.