Acute effect of an antihypertensive drug, labetalol, on uteroplacental blood flow

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Abstract
Summary. The effect of a new antihypertensive drug, labetalol, on uteroplacental blood flow was determined in eight pre‐eclamptic women. After injection of 0.5 mCi of 113mIn the radioactivity in the placenta was recorded by a gamma camera linked to a computer and the placental blood‐flow index was calculated from the ratio between the maximum radioactivity of the isotope‐accumulation curve and the rise time of the curve. Labetalol, a combined α‐ and β‐adrenoceptor antagonist was given intravenously and after 30 min a second uteroplacental blood‐flow index was calculated. There was a significant mean decrease of blood pressure from 147/98 to 128/83 mmHg, but no change in uteroplacental blood‐flow index, so that uteroplacental vascular resistance tended to decrease.