[Hypertension therapy during pregnancy and lactation (author's transl)]

Hypertension in pregnancy is not only of importance to the mother, for whom there is an increased risk of cardiovascular damage, but also for the unborn child because it leads to a reduction of blood flow in the uteroplacental unit and consequently to a disturbance of growth and maturation. Reduction of blood pressure by drugs lowers the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in the mother in the same way as outside pregnancy. There is, however, a well-founded suspicion that the blood flow in the uteroplacental unit may be still further reduced by some antihypertensives, at least in certain situations. Therefore careful consideration must be given to which antihypertensives can be used during pregnancy and which cannot.