Nifedipine as a second line antihypertensive drug in pregnancy

Slow-release nifedipine has been used in the treatment of severe hypertension in 23 pregnant women. In 22 this was in combination with other drugs, in 18 including atenolol. Good control of blood pressure was achieved in 20 women. The perinatal mortality of the group was 130/1000, with a high caesarean section rate (71% of live-births), a high rate of abnormal CTGs, a high rate of premature delivery, and a high rate of infants who were small-for-dates. Whether this is due to the disease process or the medication is uncertain. For the present time these combinations should only be used in severe hypertensives or in the context of a controlled trial.