INTRODUCTION
Highest incidence of hypertension was occurred
in age group of 18-22 years (41.3%) and primigravidae patients (53.8%). A majority of patients 67.3 % were on
combination therapy whereas 32.7% were on Monotherapy. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed
antihypertensive as monotherapy (17.3 %) as well as in combination therapy (i.e. 28.8 % with methyldopa and
Nifedipine). Conclusion: Our study concluded that the incidence of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy was
high. Methyldopa was the commonest prescribed antihypertensive in monotherapy and combination, as it is
safest during pregnancy.
Hypertension is the most common medical problem encountered in pregnancy and remains an
important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality1
. It complicates almost 10% of all pregnancies2
.
Pregnancies complicated by hypertension are associated with increased risk of adverse fetal, neonatal and
maternal outcomes, including preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), perinatal death, acute renal
or hepatic failure, antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage and maternal death3
Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are classified into 4 categories, as recommended by the
National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: 1)
chronic hypertension, 2) preeclampsia-eclampsia, 3) preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension, and
4) gestational hypertension (transient hypertension of pregnancy or chronic hypertension identified in the latter
half of pregnancy)
.
4
. In a multicenter study, approximately 30% of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were due
to chronic hypertension while 70% of the cases were diagnosed as gestational hypertension/preeclampsia5
Treating the hypertension does not alter the progression of disease. However it has been shown that early
treatment decreases not only the frequency of hypertensive crisis, but also the rate of neonatal complications.
Antihypertensive medications are mainly used to prevent or treat severe hypertension, to prolong pregnancy for
as long as safely possible thereby maximizing the gestational age of the infant, and to minimize fetal exposure to
medications that may have adverse effects. During pregnancy, the challenge is in deciding when to use
antihypertensive medications, and what level of blood pressure to target. The antihypertensive drugs that may be
used in pregnancy are methyldopa, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and vasodilators. Methyldopa has
been available for many years and is widely used. Literature supports the safety and efficacy of Nifedipine and
Atenolol used in essential hypertension in pregnancy