[The therapy of the hypertensive form of late gestosis (author's transl)].

Based on five cases of intrauterine death associated with preeclamptic toxemia, a possible relationship between the antihypertensive treatment with Catapres and the fatal outcome of the fetus is discussed. Catapres is known to decrease cardiac output and, in addition, diminishes the utero-placental circulation. For effective prevention of hemodynamic failure in such cases, it is advisable to use Catapres only in combination with adequate intravenous infusion therapy. Further investigations concerning this possible relationship should be done to determine sufficiently whether or not Catapres can be used without risk as a hypertensive drug in late gestosis.