PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gabriella Pridjian
AU  - Candice Pridjian
AU  - Svitlana Danchuk
AU  - Monica Ianosi-Irimie
AU  - Hop V. Vu
AU  - Jules B. Puschett
TI  - Beneficial Effects of Metolazone in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia
AID  - 10.1124/jpet.106.104901
DP  - 2006 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 1027--1032
VI  - 318
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/3/1027.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/3/1027.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther2006 Sep 01; 318
AB  - Preeclampsia is a disorder that continues to exact a significant toll with respect to maternal morbidity and mortality as well as fetal wastage. Furthermore, the treatment of this disorder has not changed significantly in 50 years and is unsatisfactory. The use of diuretics in this syndrome is controversial because there is a concern related to potential baleful effects of volume contraction leading to a possible further decrement in the perfusion of the maternal-fetal unit. Metolazone is a diuretic/antihypertensive agent, which has a therapeutic effect on blood pressure (BP) in human essential hypertension without causing a natriuresis. We administered the drug in nondiuretic doses in a rat model of preeclampsia previously developed in this laboratory. The drug reduced BP without an accompanying natriuresis. Although there was a trend toward an improvement in intrauterine growth restriction, as determined by litter size and the number of pups demonstrating malformations, the values did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that metolazone, in low dosage, is an effective antihypertensive in this rat model. These studies have implications for the treatment of the human disorder. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics