[Effect of dihydroergotamine (DHE) on fetal hemodynamics]

With this article we have pursued the question if the fetal hemodynamic will change under Dihydroergotamine-treatment (DHE) of the mother during pregnancy. For that purpose, the S/D-ratio in 20 hypotensive pregnant women was determined before and one week after treatment with 2 x 2.5 mg DHE (DETMS retard) daily by Doppler-sonographic measurement in the fetal aorta. The control group consisted of 20 healthy, untreated normotensive pregnant women not differing from the hypotensives as regards age, parity, and gestational age. The results show that in hypotensive pregnant women the S/D-ratio, and therefore the resistance in the fetal periphery respectively in the placenta circulation is increased by 22% (p less than 0.002) on the average compared with the normotensives. A one week's treatment with DHE led to a significant decrease of the S/D-ratio by 20% (p less than 0.001). Herewith, the values after DHE-treatment did not differ from those of the normotensives. Therefore we conclude that the treatment of hypotensive pregnant women with DHE in the above mentioned dosage produces a significant improvement of fetal hemodynamic.