USE OF LABETALOL IN THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE HYPERTENSION DURING PREGNANCY

1 Labetalol, a hypotensive agent combining alpha‐ and beta‐adrenoceptor antagonist properties, was used to treat severe hypertensive disease complicating pregnancy. 2 Effective reduction in BP was achieved in all but 3 of the 25 patients treated. Careful monitoring of feto‐placental function was undertaken to ensure the maintenance of fetal well‐being. Maternal and fetal side‐effects were minimal and it was not necessary to discontinue the drug in any patient. 3 Labetalol was estimated in the cord blood of the fetus at delivery as well as in the breast milk of mothers on day 3 post partum. There were no adverse effects of the drug on the infants and significant hypotension did not occur. 4 The reults suggest that labetalol has a direct action on fetal lung maturation and this, together with its effective hypotensive effect, contributes to the low perinatal mortality (3.5%) observed. 5 Oculotoxicity due to the labetalol was not observed in the infants delivered. 6 It is concluded that the efficient hypotensive action of labetalol, together with apparent freedom from maternal and fetal side‐ effects, and consequent improved perinatal mortality, suggest that it is a suitable drug for use in pregnancy complicated by hypertension. 1979 The British Pharmacological Society