Effect of diazoxide on the antepartum cardiotocograph in severe pregnancy-associated hypertension.

Intravenous diazoxide was given to 8 patients with severe pregnancy-associated hypertension (diastolic pressure greater than or equal to 110) in the antepartum period. Maternal hypertension was rapidly controlled in all patients; the diastolic blood pressure fell to less than or equal to 100 in all patients and to less than or equal to 85 in 7. Diazoxide had no significant effect on the basal fetal heart rate (FHR) or on the latency period or amplitude of late decelerations in the 3 patients with abnormal (positive) stress cardiotocographs (SCTG) and abnormal (unreactive) non-stress cardiotocographs (NSCTG). In the 5 patients with reactive NSCTGs, diazoxide had no significant effect on the basal FHR or on the frequency of fetal movement-induced FHR accelerations. Thus, diazoxide did not adversely affect fetal well-being in these patients with severe pregnancy-associated hypertension as assessed by cardiotocography.