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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
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Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Beta-Blockers in Pregnancy: Clinical Update.
Vasiliki Katsi1, Ilias P Papakonstantinou2, Ourania Papazachou3
1Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Current Hypertension Reports
|February 3, 2023
Summary
Beta-blockers can help manage hypertension in pregnancy, but their use requires careful consideration of potential risks to both mother and baby. Individualized treatment selection and monitoring are crucial for optimizing outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pharmacology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are significant causes of maternal and fetal morbidity.
- Beta-blockers may offer benefits in managing pregnancy-induced hypertension and endothelial dysfunction.
- Controversies exist regarding the safety and optimal use of beta-blockers during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the benefits and adverse effects of beta-blockers in pregnant women with hypertension.
- To assess potential adverse effects of beta-blockers on neonates.
- To provide consensus recommendations for selecting and individualizing beta-blocker treatment for pregnancy-associated hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing evidence on beta-blocker use in pregnancy.
- Analysis of safety data regarding maternal and fetal outcomes.
- Synthesis of current recommendations and identification of areas of controversy.
Main Results:
- While certain beta-blockers are considered beneficial for hypertension in pregnancy, evidence on fetal safety is variable and incomplete.
- Intrauterine growth restriction is a known concern, with other neonatal and obstetric complications requiring thorough exploration.
- Specific beta-blockers, when carefully selected and monitored, may improve outcomes for pregnant women with hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Beta-blocker selection for pregnancy-associated hypertension should be individualized, considering potential benefits against known and unknown risks.
- Further research is needed to clarify the long-term safety and efficacy of various beta-blockers in pregnant populations.
- Close monitoring is essential to optimize the use of beta-blockers in managing hypertension during pregnancy.
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