Furosemida en el control de la hipertensión arterial posparto en preeclámpticas severas

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To establish the utility of furosemide in the control of postpartum blood pressure in severe preeclamptic patients. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted at the Central Hospital "Dr. Urquinaona", Maracaibo, Venezuela. Patients diagnosed with severe preeclampsia were included, who during the postpartum period were randomized to be treated with furosemide, alpha-methyldopa and oral potassium chloride (group A) or oral alpha-methyldopa (group B) for 48 hours. The parameters evaluated were: variations in blood pressure and heart rate values, the persistence of hypertension, laboratory parameters and adverse effects related to treatment. RESULTS: Data of 198 patients in group A and 197 patients in group B in each of the groups were available for the final analysis. After 48 hours of treatment, statistical significant decreases were observed in the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between patients treated with furosemide and patients in the control group (p <0.0001). Persistence of hypertension was observed in 52 patients (26.3 %) of group A and in 134 patients (68.0 %) of group B (p < 0.0001). No differences were found between the groups in heart rate, laboratory values and adverse effects (p = ns). CONCLUSION: Furosemide produces significant decreases in the mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as in the frequency of persistence of postpartum hypertension in severe preeclamptic patients.