Assessment of the effect of adding furosemide to antihypertensive treatment on postpartum hypertension in women with preeclampsia; a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: One of the probable mechanisms of hypertension that may occur in women with preeclampsia after delivery is returning of interstitial and extravascular fluid into the bloodstream.Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of furosemide to control postpartum hypertension in women with preeclampsia.Patients and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 116 patients with preeclampsia with a blood pressure (BP) of more than 150/100 mm Hg in the first 24 hours after delivery. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of nifedipine (taking 10 mg tablets every 8 hours) and nifedipine plus furosemide (nifedipine plus 20 mg furosemide tablet once daily). Patients were monitored until the fifth day after delivery. After the first 48 hours, patients with a BP lower than 150/100 mm Hg were discharged from the hospital and the treatment continued at home.Results: Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were significantly reduced in all patients and in each group on the first to fifth days after delivery. On the second day, DBP in the nifedipine group was significantly lower (P = 0.005). On the third to fifth days, SBP in the nifedipine plus furosemide group was significantly lower (P < 0.05), while DBP did not change (P > 0.05). On the third and fourth days, MAP was significantly lower in the nifedipine plus furosemide group (P < 0.05), however it was not significantly different on the fifth day (P = 0.383). The need for additional medication to control BP was higher in the nifedipine group than in the nifedipine plus furosemide group. BP became normal (less than 120/80 mmHg) in 74 patients (68%) within five days after delivery; which was more popular in the nifedipine plus furosemide group (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that inclusion of furosemide in nifedipine regimen was associated with a further reduction in SBP and MAP. Furosemide also reduced the need for additional medication to control BP and increased the frequency and speed of reaching toward normal BP.