Key result
Oral labetalol yields ~24-point higher target blood pressure achievement than methyldopa in pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Why the study?
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are common and multiple antihypertensive options are available, motivating a comparison of the efficacy and safety of oral labetalol versus oral methyldopa in the third trimester.
Does oral labetalol improve blood pressure control and safety compared to oral methyldopa in females with pregnancy-induced hypertension during the third trimester?
Does oral labetalol improve blood pressure control and safety compared to oral methyldopa in females with pregnancy-induced hypertension during the third trimester?
Oral labetalol achieved higher rates of target blood pressure control (84% vs 60%) with no episodes of hypotension compared to oral methyldopa over 5 days in third-trimester pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Labetalol may support better BP control than methyldopa in pregnancy-induced hypertension; leaves open confirmation by randomized trials before practice change.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a common complaint faced by obstetricians in routine clinical practice. Careful monitoring of both the mother and fetus is a crucial part of treatment. Numerous anti-hypertensive drugs are available in the market. Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of oral labetalol versus oral methyldopa in the management of pregnancy-induced hypertension during the third trimester. Methods: This quasi-experimental comparative study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Avicenna Hospital, Lahore. Hundred females were enrolled and divided into two groups. Half of the females were prescribed labetalol (Group A), and half were prescribed methyldopa (Group B). After 5 days, the efficacy and safety of the drugs were noted. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 26.0. Results: The mean age of females was 28.62 ± 6.91 years in the labetalol group, while 29.86 ± 6.69 years in the methyldopa group. The mean SBP was reduced from 148.50 ± 4.43 mmHg to 122.00 ± 9.26 mmHg with labetalol and from 148.40 ± 4.99 mmHg to 127.50 ± 14.44 mmHg with methyldopa. Likewise, mean DBP was reduced from 98.10 ± 4.62 mmHg to 73.10 ± 12.37 mmHg with labetalol and from 98.20 ± 4.71 mmHg to 78.60 ± 11.56 mmHg with methyldopa. Target BP was achieved in 42 (84%) with labetalol, while in 30 (60%) females with methyldopa (p<0.05). Hypotension was noted in 4 (8%) females in the methyldopa group only (p<0.005). Conclusion: Labetalol has been proven to be more efficient in controlling blood pressure than methyldopa.
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Mubeen et al. (2026) studied Pregnancy-induced hypertension (n=100). Oral labetalol vs. Oral methyldopa was evaluated on Achievement of target blood pressure (p=<0.05). Oral labetalol achieved target blood pressure in 84% of third-trimester patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to 60% with oral methyldopa (p<0.05).
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