Bibliographic Info
GuidelineWHO recommendations on maternal health: guidelines approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee, second edition. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025
Year of Publication2023
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Maintained
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Certainty of evidence
Very low
The choice and route of administration of an antihypertensive drug for severe hypertension during pregnancy, in preference to others, should be based primarily on the prescribing clinician's experience with that particular drug, its cost and local availability
Notes and Remarks
- 1.In terms of the choice and route of administration of an antihypertensive drug for severe hypertension during pregnancy, the guideline development group noted that not only is the evidence base for this recommendation limited, but also some antihypertensive drugs may not be feasible options in many settings.
- 2.The group acknowledged that hydralazine, alpha methyldopa, beta blockers (including labetalol) and nifedipine have been extensively used, and therefore, these agents would seem to be reasonable choices until further evidence becomes available.
- 3.The group noted that there was no evidence to suggest that nifedipine interacts adversely with magnesium sulfate. In addition, the group considered that the use of angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and sodium nitroprusside should be avoided due to safety concerns
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Originally Developed
Guideline
WHO recommendations: drug treatment for severe hypertension in pregnancy.
Year2018
InstitutionWorld Health Organization