Skip to main content
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1972 Jun 3;2(5813):568–570. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5813.568

Successful use of Oral Diazoxide in the Treatment of Severe Toxaemia of Pregnancy

J E F Pohl, H Thurston, D Davis, M Y Morgan
PMCID: PMC1788130  PMID: 5032785

Abstract

Treatment with oral diazoxide for periods of 4 to 10 weeks in hospital allowed adequate control of hypertension with continuation of fetal growth in four patients with severe toxaemia. Two were insulin-dependent diabetics and one of these suffered from renal failure. In all patients albuminuria diminished markedly, while the fluid retention was controlled with frusemide. Three pregnancies were successfully terminated by lower segment caesarean section and in the remaining case vaginal delivery resulted in the birth of a healthy baby. Control of blood sugars presented no problems in the diabetic patients. Only minimal adjustments of insulin dosage were required. One of the non-diabetic patients developed mild hyperglycaemia which responded to tolbutamide. The babies, ranging in age from 5 to 12 months, have continued to thrive.

Full text

PDF
568

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Black J. Diazoxide and the treatment of hypoglycemia: an historical review. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1968 Apr 11;150(2):194–203. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1968.tb19045.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. DIXON H. G., BROWNE J. C., DAVEY D. A. CHORIODECIDUAL AND MYOMETRIAL BLOOD-FLOW. Lancet. 1963 Aug 24;2(7304):369–373. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)93054-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DOLLERY C. T., PENTECOST B. L., SAMAAN N. A. Drug-induced diabetes. Lancet. 1962 Oct 13;2(7259):735–737. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)90567-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FINNERTY F. A., Jr The significance and treatment of blood pressure elevation associated with toxemia of pregnancy and acute nephritis. Am J Cardiol. 1962 Jun;9:888–892. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(62)90215-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Finnerty F. A., Jr, Kakaviatos N., Davidov M. The long term effect of repeated acute reductions of arterial pressure with diazoxide in patients with severe hypertension. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1968 Apr 11;150(2):461–463. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1968.tb19071.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Graber A. L., Porte D., Jr, Williams R. H. Clinical use of diazoxide and mechanism for its hyperglycemic effects. Diabetes. 1966 Mar;15(3):143–148. doi: 10.2337/diab.15.3.143. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. LANDESMAN R., HOLZE E., SCHERR L. Fetal mortality in essential hypertension. Obstet Gynecol. 1955 Oct;6(4):354–365. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Loubatières A., Alric R., Mariani M. M., de Malbosc H., Ribes G. Le diazoxide exerce expérimentalement une action inhibitrice sur la sécrétion basale d'insuline. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1966;160(1):168–171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MORRIS N., OSBORN S. B., WRIGHT H. P. Effective circulation of the uterine wall in late pregnancy measured with 24NaCl. Lancet. 1955 Feb 12;268(6859):323–325. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(55)90061-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Nayler W. G., McInnes I., Swann J. B., Race D., Carson V., Lowe T. E. Some effects of the hypotensive drug diazoxide on the cardiovascular system. Am Heart J. 1968 Feb;75(2):223–232. doi: 10.1016/s0002-8703(68)90067-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Pohl J. E., Thurston H., Swales J. D. The dntidiuretic action of diazoxide. Clin Sci. 1972 Feb;42(2):145–152. doi: 10.1042/cs0420145. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Pohl J. E., Thurston H. Use of diazoxide in hypertension with renal failure. Br Med J. 1971 Oct 16;4(5780):142–145. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5780.142. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Schmitt H., Laubie M. Actions du diazoxide sur le système cardiovasculaire, sur le métabolisme du myocarde et sur les décharges sympathiques. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1968 Feb;171(2):339–355. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. WOLFF F. DIAZOXIDE HYPERGLYCAEMIA AND ITS CONTINUED RELIEF BY TOLBUTAMIDE. Lancet. 1964 Feb 8;1(7328):309–310. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)92414-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES