Oral labetalol compared to oral nifedipine for postpartum hypertension: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine whether oral labetalol is associated with a shorter time to blood pressure control compared to oral extended release nifedipine for management of persistent postpartum hypertension. Study Design: This randomized controlled trial conducted between June 2014 and June 2015 included women who delivered at ≥32 weeks’ gestation with persistent postpartum hypertension (sustained blood pressure ≥150/100 mmHg) requiring an oral antihypertensive agent. We included women with gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or chronic hypertension not previously on medication. Women were randomized to labetalol or nifedipine, and the allocated study drug was incrementally increased to achieve blood pressure control. The primary outcome was time to sustained blood pressure control defined as the absence of severe hypertension for at least 12 hours. Secondary outcomes included postpartum length of stay, need for increased dosing, need for additional oral antihypertensive agents, and patient repo...