Neonatal adrenergic blockade following single dose maternal labetalol administration

A single 30 mg intravenous dose of labetalol given 20 minutes prior to cesarean delivery at 35 weeks of gestation for severe pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with symptoms of beta-adrenergic blockade (hypoglycemia, bradycardia, hypotension) in preterm twins. The infants were subsequently found to have therapeutic labetalol concentrations (180 and 150 ng/mL) in umbilical cord blood. The pharmacology of transplacental labetalol is reviewed and potential mechanisms for neonatal beta-adrenergic blockade are discussed.