Oral beta-blockers for mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2004

Oral beta‐blockers for mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy - The Cochrane Library - Magee - Wiley Online Library from LOGIN Enter e-mail address Enter password REMEMBER ME > > > > DATABASE TOOLS DATABASE MENU FIND ARTICLES OTHER RESOURCES Intervention Review You have full text access to this content Oral beta‐blockers for mild to moderate hypertension during pregnancy Laura Magee 1,* , Lelia Duley 2 Editorial Group: Published Online: 21 JAN 2009 Assessed as up-to-date: 30 JAN 2004 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002863 Copyright © 2012 The Cochrane Collaboration.
Publication History Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions) Published Online: 21 JAN 2009 SEARCH ARTICLE TOOLS Abstract Abstract Background Antihypertensives, such as beta-blockers, are used for pregnancy hypertension in the belief these will improve outcome for mother and baby.
Objectives To assess whether oral beta-blockers are better than placebo, or no beta-blocker, and have advantages over other antihypertensives, for women with mild to moderate pregnancy hypertension.
Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (January 2004) and bibliographies of retrieved papers and personal files.
We updated this search on 4 July 2012 and added the results to the awaiting classification section of the review.
Selection criteria Trials comparing beta-blockers with placebo or no therapy, or other antihypertensives, for women with mild to moderate pregnancy hypertension.
Data collection and analysis We extracted the data independently and were not blinded to trial characteristics or outcomes.
Oral beta-blockers decrease the risk of severe hypertension (relative risk (RR) 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26 to 0.53; 11 trials, N = 1128 women) and the need for additional antihypertensives (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.62; 7 trials, N = 856 women).
There are insufficient data for conclusions about the effect on perinatal mortality or preterm birth.
Beta-blockers seem to be associated with an increase in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.82; 12 trials; N = 1346 women).
Maternal hospital admission may be decreased, neonatal bradycardia increased and respiratory distress syndrome decreased, but these outcomes are reported in only a small proportion of trials.