EFFICACY OF HYDRALAZINE IN COMPARISON WITH LABETALOL FOR CONTROL OF SEVERE HYPERTENSION IN PATIENTS WITH ECLAMPSIA

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intravenous hydralazine with intravenous labetalol for control of severe hypertension in eclamptic patients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Obstetrics and Gynecology unit “B”, PGMI Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, from Mar 2017 to Sep 2017.

Methodology: Total 206 patients were included in this comparative study. They were randomly divided into two groups; group A and group B, each group comprising of 103 patients. The group A was given 5mg hydralazine as an initial intravenous bolus. After 20 minutes blood pressure was measured and if systolic and diastolic blood pressures were found to be >160 mmHg and>110mmHg respectively, the same dose was repeated maximally 3 times. The group B received 20mg labetalol as an initial intravenous bolus, then after every 20 minutes followed by 80mg to a maximum of three doses if systolic and diastolic blood pressures persisted >160 mmHg and >110mmHg respectively.

Results: Mean age in group A was 27 ± 2.93 years whereas in group B mean age was 29 ± 3.18 years. Moreover, blood pressure was effectively lowered in 92% patients of group A and in 90% patients of group B. There was no statistically significant difference found between the efficacies of the two drugs.

Conclusion: It was found that efficacy of the two drugs is similar in lowering blood pressure in eclamptic patients.