Metoprolol in the Treatment Oe Mild to Moderate Hypertension in Pregnancy - Effects on Fetal Heart Activity

In a double blind placebo controlled trial of the cardio-selective beta-1-receptor blocker metoprolol for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy, the effects on the fetal heart rate (FHR) and its cardiotocographic (CTG) pattern were studied. 52 women were allocated to groups which received either 50-100 mg metoprolol twice daily or placebo. CTG tracings were performed weekly. The tracings were analyzed with respect to basal FHR, amplitude of oscillations, FHR accelerations and FHR decelerations. The mothers also noted fetal movements during the 30 minutes the tracings were running. There was a significant decrease in FHR by five to ten beats per minute in the metoprolol-treated group but not in the placebogroup. The number of accelerations and fetal movements was less at the CTG before labour compared to the CTG before treatment in the metoprolol-group but not in the placebo-group.