The optimal dosage of ketanserin for patients with severe hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To establish the optimal dosage of ketanserin in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy. Study design: A double blind prospective randomised controlled trail, comparing 10mg ketanserin given as intravenous boluses either every 10 or 20min, until the therapeutic goal of 90mmHg (diastolic blood pressure) was reached, to a maximum of eight boluses. Main outcome measures were treatment failures and caesarean sections for fetal distress. Results: There was no difference in reaching the therapeutic goal between patients receiving 10mg ketanserin either every 10 or 20min. Conclusion: Ketanserin appears to be an attractive medicine in the treatment of severe hypertension in pregnancy, but the optimal dosage could not be established. Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.