Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 6, 2026
Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: January 26, 2024
Diuretics vs. placebo for postpartum blood pressure control in preeclampsia (DIUPRE): a randomized clinical trial
Telma Cursino1, Leila Katz2, Isabela Coutinho3
1Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, Recife, PE, Brazil. macursino5.2@gmail.com.
Insights
This study investigated furosemide for postpartum severe preeclampsia. Furosemide did not significantly accelerate blood pressure recovery compared to placebo, suggesting it is not a primary treatment for postpartum hypertension in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Severe preeclampsia affects 10% of pregnancies, leading to serious maternal and neonatal complications.
- Hypertension in severe preeclampsia is linked to fluid dynamics and increased intravascular volume, persisting postpartum.
- Persistent critical hypertension post-delivery increases puerperal morbidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess furosemide's efficacy in hastening blood pressure normalization in women with severe preeclampsia postpartum.
- To evaluate the impact of furosemide on hypertensive crises and antihypertensive medication needs.
Main Methods:
- A triple-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 120 postpartum women with severe preeclampsia.
- Participants received either 40 mg oral furosemide daily or a placebo.
- Key variables included blood pressure, hypertensive crises, medication requirements, urine output, and hospital stay.
Main Results:
- Furosemide did not significantly accelerate systolic or diastolic blood pressure recovery compared to placebo.
- No significant differences were observed in the frequency of hypertensive crises or the need for antihypertensive therapy.
- Urine output was higher in the furosemide group, but this did not translate to improved blood pressure control.
Conclusions:
- Furosemide (40 mg daily) is not effective in accelerating postpartum blood pressure recovery for women with severe preeclampsia.
- The study suggests that furosemide should not be routinely used for managing postpartum hypertension in this patient population.
- Further research may explore alternative diuretic strategies or combination therapies.
Background:
Hypertension affects about 10% of pregnancies and is responsible for both maternal and neonatal devastating complications such as eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, prematurity and maternal and neonatal death. The resolution of the disease occurs in the first twelve weeks postpartum. The behavior of blood pressure and occurrence of very high blood pressure episodes among women with severe preeclampsia is related to remodeling of the dynamics of body fluids with consequent increase in intravascular volume. The persistence of hypertension in critical levels results in increased puerperal morbidity.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effectiveness of furosemide in accelerating blood pressure recovery among women with severe preeclampsia.
Methods/Design:
A triple-masked placebo controlled clinical trial, will be conducted including 120 postpartum women with severe preeclampsia, after eclampsia prophylaxis with magnesium sulfate and with adequate diuresis. Women with chronic hypertension and users of diuretics will be deleted. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Patients will be randomized to receive furosemide (40 mg orally every twenty four hours) or placebo. The variables are systolic and diastolic blood pressure, frequency of hypertensive crises, need for maintenance of antihypertensive therapy, number of antihypertensive agents used to control blood pressure, urine output, length of hospital stay, adverse effects and maternal complications. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee in humans of our institution. All participants will be duly informed about the aims of the project and will be included only if they agree to participate voluntarily, signing the informed consent.
Trial Registration:
This study was registered on Clinical Trials.gov under the number NCT02163655. ( http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02163655).
More Related Videos
05:33Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture
Published on: August 4, 2023
04:37Improved Home Blood Pressure Control by CT-guided Ozone-mediated Renal Denervation for Patients with Resistant Hypertension
Published on: June 6, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:16Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Diuretics
01:33Hormonal Regulation
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics
01:17Hormonal Regulation of Blood Pressure
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
The adrenal medulla releases epinephrine and norepinephrine, catecholamines that enhance and extend the sympathetic or "fight or flight" physiological response. These hormones escalate heart rate and the force of contraction...
01:31Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers
01:25Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management