Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare efficacy, safety, and pregnancy outcome of antihypertensive drugs (methyldopa, labetalol, and nifedipine) used in management of preeclampsia (PE).
Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was carried out on 90 pregnant women with confirmed diagnosis of PE. The patients were divided into three equal groups: Group A: treated with alpha methyldopa 250 mg, group B: treated with labetalol 200 mg and group C: treated with nifedipine 10 mg.
Results: Pulsatility index (PI) of umbilical artery after treatment, resistive index (RI) of umbilical artery after treatment and PI of middle cerebral artery after treatment was significantly lower in groups B and C compared to group A. RI of middle cerebral artery was significantly higher in Group B and Group C than Group A (P value <0.001) while it was insignificantly different between Group B and Group C. There was no significant difference in mode of delivery, gestational age (GA (of the fetus at delivery, preterm delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELPP), placenta abruption syndrome, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), neonatal death at incubator and neonatal birth weight between the studied groups.
Conclusions: Labetalol and Nifedipine showed better efficacy and safety in management of PE as observed by stable blood pressure after treatment. Labetalol and Nifedipine were significantly better regarding Doppler indices (PI, RI) compared to Methyldopa.