Oral nifedipine may be a preferential option for treating acute severe hypertension during pregnancy: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim: To compare oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol in the treatment of acute severe hypertension in pregnancy (SHP). Methods: The primary outcomes were the required time to achieve target blood pressure (RTATBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) after treatment, secondary outcomes were the number of doses (NoD) and adverse events (AEs). Results: There was no difference between oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol in SBP, DBP, and AE. However, oral nifedipine provided less RTATBP and NoD. Conclusion: Oral nifedipine was associated with less RTATBP and NoD and otherwise did not differ from intravenous labetalol.