Successful use of oral diazoxide in the treatment of severe toxaemia of pregnancy.

Treatment with oral diazoxide for periods of 4 to 10 weeks in hospital allowed adequate control of hypertension with continuation of fetal growth in four patients with severe toxaemia. Two were insulin-dependent diabetics and one of these suffered from renal failure. In all patients albuminuria diminished markedly, while the fluid retention was controlled with frusemide. Three pregnancies were successfully terminated by lower segment caesarean section and in the remaining case vaginal delivery resulted in the birth of a healthy baby. Control of blood sugars presented no problems in the diabetic patients. Only minimal adjustments of insulin dosage were required. One of the non-diabetic patients developed mild hyperglycaemia which responded to tolbutamide. The babies, ranging in age from 5 to 12 months, have continued to thrive.