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Circulatory and metabolic effects of a combined alpha‐ and beta‐ adrenoceptor blocker (labetalol) in hypertension of pregnancy.
Author(s) -
Lunell NO,
Hjemdahl P,
Fredholm BB,
Nisell H,
Persson B,
Wager J
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1981.tb01224.x
Subject(s) - labetalol , endocrinology , medicine , heart rate , blood pressure , alpha (finance) , pregnancy , biology , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction , genetics
1 Seven women with hypertension of pregnancy were given the combined alpha‐ and beta‐adrenoceptor blocking drug labetalol (50 mg i.v.) in their last trimester. Acute effects were studied for 3 h after administration. 2 Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly reduced from 143 +/‐ 4 (s.e. mean) to 127 +/‐ 5 mmHg and from 101 +/‐ 2 to 88 +/‐ 2 mmHg, respectively. Maternal heart rate fell significantly from 77 +/‐ 5 to 68 +/‐ 3 beats/min. The changes remained during the 3 h of observation. Foetal heart rate was not affected. No side‐effects were encountered. 3 Plasma noradrenaline increased significantly from 1.54 +/‐ 0.16 to a peak value of 2.37 +/‐ 0.41 nmol/l suggesting sympathetic activation following labetalol. Plasma adrenaline levels were essentially unchanged. Plasma glucose, insulin and C‐peptide showed only minor changes. No major effects on lipid metabolism were seen except a significant fall of nonesterified fatty acids at 60 min. Plasma cyclic AMP increased significantly throughout the observation period, perhaps indicating beta‐adrenoceptor agonist activity of labetalol. 4 The effectiveness of labetalol as an acute hypertensive agent together with apparent absence of metabolic disturbances and other side‐effects makes it an interesting drug for the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy.