Purpose: this study, using verapamil, a slow calcium channel blocker, was a randomized, clinical, double blind and placebo controlled trial, whose objective was to observe if there was a uteroplacental and fetoplacental flow variation during its chronic oral use. Methods: 123 patients were accompanied: study group (n = 61), submitted to verapamil 240 mg/day and control group (n = 62), submitted to placebo. These patients were randomized into groups of four women and treatment or placebo was given for thirty days. A flow examination of the uterine arteries and umbilical artery through doppler-velocimetry was recorded. The values of resistance (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) and of the systole/diastole ratio (S/D) of the arteries were compared after the drug administration calculating means and standard deviations. Results: the verapamil group showed RI = 0.82 (0.28), PI = 1.06 (0.12) and S/D = 2.42 (0.51) in the uterine arteries. The placebo group showed RI = 0.75 (0.35), PI = 1.00 (0.18) and S/D = 2.30 (0.38). When we analyzed the umbilical artery, the verapamil group showed RI = 0.73 (0.12), PI = 1.04 (0.13) and S/D = 2.94 (0.32). The placebo group showed RI = 0.70 (0.14), PI = 1.03 (0.07) and S/D = 3.02 (0.78). The statistical analysis of the differences of the means by the F ratio showed that there was no difference between these two groups. Conclusion: this study indicates the use of verapamil for chronic hypertensive pregnants since it does not provoke damage to the uterine and fetal blood flow.
Hypertension in pregnancy; Verapamil; Placental flow; Dopplervelocimetry
