Efficacy of methyldopa versus nifedipine in mild and severe pregnancy induced hypertension

Abstract

Background: Hypertension and its associated disorders are major health concerns during pregnancy. Antihypertensive therapy prescribes, when blood pressure is >140/90 mm of Hg, to minimize elevated blood pressure. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of nifedipine and methyldopa in the antihypertensive treatment of mild and severe pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).Methods: A total one hundred Patients attending antenatal clinic of the department between 26-37 weeks of gestation suffering from PIH were recruited. Participants were divided in to two groups i.e. group-I consists of 50 patients medicated with oral methyldopa and group-II consists of 50 patients treated with Nifedipine 10mg.Results: Methyldopa reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 162±19.6 to 140.3±10.01 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from 99.6±8.8 to 96.17±6.4. Nifedipine reduced SBP from 99.6±8.8 to 96.17±6.4 and DBP from 99.2± 7.4 to 93.45±12.3. Response to methyldopa and nifedipine was almost similar in mild PIH but in severe PIH, 65.5% of patients required additional drug atenolol for adequate control of PIH.Conclusions: Methyldopa and nifedipine are effective drugs for lowering blood pressure when given orally, Methyldopa was found to have a higher incidence of Intra uterine growth restriction while nifedipine was found to have an increased incidence of perinatal mortality.