Effect of Prostacyclin Infusion in Severe Pre-Eclampsia

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Abstract
Prostacyclin (PGI2) infusion was given in a dose of 7 ng/kg/min. to 20 pregnant women at gestational ages between 34–40 weeks; ten of them had severe preeclampsia and ten had normal pregnancies. The effects of prostacyclin were continuously monitored for 3–4 hours during infusion, and for up to 6 hours after stopping it. Prostacyclin reduced the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure in pre-eclamptic cases much more than in normotensive subjects, who only showed a slight drop in diastolic pressure during the infusion phase. Post-infusion rebound rise in blood pressure to original values was also observed. It was accompanied by maternal tachycardia, caused non-significant changes in uterine activity, and did not alter the fetal heart rate in either group. Mild side effects such as facial flushing, headache, and nausea were recorded during the infusion period. After the end of infusion, all the effects and side effects of prostacyclin disappeared within 15–30 minutes. These data indicate a limited therapeutic role for PGI2 but support a possible involvement of its deficiency in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia