OBJECTIVE: To establish the optimal dosage of ketanserin in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A double blind prospective randomised controlled trail, comparing 10 mg ketanserin given as intravenous boluses either every 10 or 20 min, until the therapeutic goal of 90 mmHg (diastolic blood pressure) was reached, to a maximum of eight boluses. Main outcome measures were treatment failures and caesarean sections for fetal distress. RESULTS: There was no difference in reaching the therapeutic goal between patients receiving 10 mg ketanserin either every 10 or 20 min. CONCLUSION:Ketanserin appears to be an attractive medicine in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy, but the optimal dosage could not be established.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To establish the optimal dosage of ketanserin in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A double blind prospective randomised controlled trail, comparing 10 mg ketanserin given as intravenous boluses either every 10 or 20 min, until the therapeutic goal of 90 mmHg (diastolic blood pressure) was reached, to a maximum of eight boluses. Main outcome measures were treatment failures and caesarean sections for fetal distress. RESULTS: There was no difference in reaching the therapeutic goal between patients receiving 10 mg ketanserin either every 10 or 20 min. CONCLUSION:Ketanserin appears to be an attractive medicine in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy, but the optimal dosage could not be established.