Propranolol for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy.

Twenty-five women were treated with propranolol during 26 pregnancies complicated by hypertension. The fetal wastage, which had been 48 per cent before treatment with propranolol was reduced to 15.4 per cent, with one missed abortion and three stillbirths. Of the 22 liveborn infants 2 were small-for-dates but all 22 had Apgar scores of 9 or 10 at five minutes. There were no congenital anomalies in 25 viable infants and none of the 22 liveborn infants had clinical or laboratory evidence of hypoglycaemia. The blood pressure was controlled in 17 of 19 patients taking propranolol alone (40 to 160 mg/day) and in 6 of 7 taking propranolol with diuretics.