Comparative study of labetalol and nifedipine in management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy

Background: Hypertensive disorders complicate 5 to 10 percent of all pregnancies, and together they are one member of the deadly triad, of haemorrhage and infection.Methods: The Present study was conducted at Navodaya Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Raichur from January 2014 to December 2015. The efficacy of labetalol verses nifedipine in management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was studied. The study consisted of 100 antenatal patients irrespective of parity and gestational age from 20-40weeks patients, with severe PIH with imminent eclampsia. Heart diseases, Hematological disorders, Liver diseases renal diseases and Bronchial asthma were excluded from the study.Results: In the study, fall in mean arterial pressure of >20mm Hg was noted 6hrs after initiation of treatment in nifedipine group which is statistically significant; no statistical significance was observed in both groups at 12hrs. A fall of mean arterial pressure to normal was noted at 48hrs and 72 hrs in labetalol, which is statistically highly significant.Conclusions: The present study indicates labetalol to be a better anti-hypertensive in terms of control of hypertension, mode of vaginal delivery and fetal outcome