Obstetric aspects of the use in pregnancy-associated hypertension of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol

The obstetric implications of the use of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol have been evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study involving 120 women with pregnancy-associated hypertension. The clinical interpretation of antenatal and intrapartum cardiotocographs was uninfluenced by atenolol. Human placental lactogen concentration fell in the atenolol group, but this was not an indicator of subsequent fetal distress. Other obstetric indices, such as urinary estriol excretion, were the same in both groups. Spontaneous premature labor occurred in five women receiving placebo but in none who received atenolol. Together with previously reported findings on pregnancy outcome, our study leads us to conclude that beta-blockers such as atenolol can appropriately be used in the management of hypertension during pregnancy.