Infusion of diazoxide in severe hypertension during pregnancy

Eight patients with severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia were treated with diazoxide. The drug was administered on 3 occasions as a bolus injection (300 mg within 10 sec) and on 8 occasions as an infusion (15 mg/min, total amount 5 mg/kg body weight). The hypotensive effect at 30 and 60 min (stable hypotensive effect) and at 7 h (long-term effect) were the same with both modes of administration. The maximal decrease in blood pressure was reached in 5 min after bolus injection, compared to 25 min with the infusion. If diazoxide is used in severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, it should be administered preferably by the infusion method, because this results in a more gradual decline in blood pressure. Furthermore, the administration can easily be interrupted in cases of an exaggerated drop in blood pressure.