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Updated: May 24, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
The effect of maternal ketanserin use on the circulation of the neonate: a prospective, observational study
Liselotte Schaafstra1, Eric N van Roon, Leonard P Morssink
1Department of Pediatrics, Leeuwarden Medical Centre, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. lschaafstra@hotmail.com
Objective:
High ketanserin levels are found in the umbilical cord after maternal treatment. However, the effect on the circulation of the neonate has never been investigated.
Study Design:
A prospective, observational study was performed at the neonate ward at the Medical Centre Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. All neonates exposed in utero to ketanserin administered to the mother, from May 2007 to December 2009 (n=58), were included. We studied the effect of ketanserin exposure on the circulation of the neonate, by monitoring heart rate and blood pressure during the first 24h of life. Non-parametric as well as parametric tests were used to analyze the effect of gestational age, birth weight, gender, various ketanserin factors (cumulative dosage, duration of therapy and last dosage rate), other maternal drug use and maternal diagnosis on the blood pressure of the neonate.
Results:
Eight neonates became hypotensive during the first 8h of life (13.8%). The last dosage rate as well as the mean dosage rate (cumulative dosage divided by duration of therapy in hours) were significantly higher in the group with hypotension (P=.005 and P=.002, respectively). All hypotensive neonates were exposed to a last dosage rate of at least 8 mg/h. Maternal HELLP syndrome was diagnosed more often in hypotensive compared to normotensive neonates (P=.048).
Conclusion:
In utero exposure to ketanserin lowers the blood pressure of the neonate. The risk of hypotension is associated with the last dosage rate of maternal ketanserin treatment and the co-existence of maternal HELLP syndrome.
