Background: Hypertensive emergency in pregnancy is defined as per sistent acute-onset, severe hypertension (Systolic BP>160 mmHg or diastolic BP >110 mmHg or both) in the setting of preeclampsia or eclampsia. Objective: Compare safety and efficacy of oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol for acute blood pressure control in hypertensive emergencies of pregnancy Study Design: a randomised comparative hospital based study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J.L.N Medical College, Bhagalpur from April 2020 to December 2020 in 80 women with hypertensive emergencies. Method: Divided into 2 groups of 40 each. Nifedipine group received 10mg tab every 20 min till maximum of 5 doses and labetalol group was given iv labetalol in escalating doses of 20, 40, 40, 80and 80mg every 20 min till a target BP was achieved. Results: In our study, mean time required to achieve target BP in nifedipine and labetalol group was 4514.84 and 54+18.22 minutes (p value 0.018) respectively. Mean decrease in SBP after treatment was 59 ± 21.1 mmHg in Nifedipine group as compared to 42.25 ± 22.7 mmHg in Labetalol (p – value = 0.001). Also the mean decrease in DBP in nifedipine group was 37.5 ± 11.49mmHg as compared to 27.75 ± 15.34 mmHg in labetalol group (p – value = 0.001). There were no significant differences between side effects and fetomaternal outcome. Conclusion: Oral Nifedipine controls hypertension more rapidly and with fewer doses and is as safe as iv Labetalol.

Background: Hypertensive emergency in pregnancy is defined as per sistent acute-onset, severe hypertension (Systolic BP>160 mmHg or diastolic BP >110 mmHg or both) in the setting of preeclampsia or eclampsia. Objective: Compare safety and efficacy of oral nifedipine and intravenous labetalol for acute blood pressure control in hypertensive emergencies of pregnancy Study Design: a randomised comparative hospital based study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J.L.N Medical College, Bhagalpur from April 2020 to December 2020 in 80 women with hypertensive emergencies. Method: Divided into 2 groups of 40 each. Nifedipine group received 10mg tab every 20 min till maximum of 5 doses and labetalol group was given iv labetalol in escalating doses of 20, 40, 40, 80and 80mg every 20 min till a target BP was achieved. Results: In our study, mean time required to achieve target BP in nifedipine and labetalol group was 4514.84 and 54+18.22 minutes (p value 0.018) respectively. Mean decrease in SBP after treatment was 59 ± 21.1 mmHg in Nifedipine group as compared to 42.25 ± 22.7 mmHg in Labetalol (p – value = 0.001). Also the mean decrease in DBP in nifedipine group was 37.5 ± 11.49mmHg as compared to 27.75 ± 15.34 mmHg in labetalol group (p – value = 0.001). There were no significant differences between side effects and fetomaternal outcome. Conclusion: Oral Nifedipine controls hypertension more rapidly and with fewer doses and is as safe as iv Labetalol.