Nutritional factors and rest reduce pregnancy‐induced hypertension and pre‐eclampsia in positive roll‐over test primigravidas

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The possibility of reducing pregnancy‐induced hypertension and preeclampsia in primigravidas with low doses of nutritional factors and relative rest in the left lateral position was investigated in a randomized controlled, double‐blind trial. METHOD: Seventy‐four normotensive women at 28–29 weeks' gestation, judged to be at risk of PIH or pre‐eclampsia because they presented with a mean blood pressure of 80 mmHg or higher and a positive roll‐over test, were studied. The treatment protocol was received by 37 women and the other 37 women received standard antenatal control until delivery. RESULT: Twenty‐nine (78.3%) women in the control group developed PIH and/or pre‐eclampsia, as opposed to only 4 (10.8%) cases in the treatment group (P < 0.001). There were no adverse effects of treatment in mothers or infants. CONCLUSION: This protocol reduces PIH and pre‐eclampsia in primigravidas judged to be at risk of hypertension. Further studies are required to evaluate prostacyclin and prostanglandin E2changes.