Transient rebound hypertension after termination of intravenous nicardipine infusion in cesarean section patients with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

Aim: Rebound hypertension after termination of nicardipine intravenous (IV) infusion in cesarean section (C/S) patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was investigated.Methods: Twenty-nine patients with gestational hypertension (GH) and 37 with preeclampsia (PE) after C/S were enrolled. After termination of nicardipine IV infusion, 12 GH and 24 PE patients were treated with oral nifedipine or labetalol, while 17 GH and 13 PE patients received no antihypertensive agents. The average systolic blood pressure (SBP) was calculated for 0–24 h after IV termination, and the incidence of a rebound SBP increase (≥160 mmHg) within 8 h after IV termination was investigated.Results: A transient rebound increase in SBP was observed in 25% of GH and 21% of PE patients with oral administration of antihypertensive agents and in 35% of GH and 15% of PE patients without oral administration of antihypertensive agents. A daily average SBP of ≥160 mmHg was observed in 17% of GH and 4% of PE patients with oral administration of antihypertensive agents and 12% of GH and 0% of PE patients without oral administration of antihypertensive agents.Conclusions: In managing the characteristic rebound BP increase after nicardipine IV infusion, the daily average SBP could be maintained at