What is the anti-hypertensive medication of choice for a pregnant patient?

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Prepare for the Internal Medicine EOR Cardiovascular Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The treatment of hypertension in pregnant patients requires careful consideration to ensure both maternal and fetal safety. Labetolol, methyldopa, and nifedipine are all anti-hypertensive medications that have been found to be effective and relatively safe during pregnancy.

Labetolol is a beta-blocker that is commonly used due to its excellent efficacy and the favorable outcomes in studies involving pregnant women. It effectively lowers blood pressure while minimizing adverse effects on the fetus.

Methyldopa is another first-line option and has a long history of use in pregnancy. It is particularly preferred because it has shown a good safety profile for both the mother and the fetus, often used to treat chronic hypertension in pregnancy.

Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, is also considered safe in pregnancy. It acts by causing vasodilation, leading to reduced blood pressure, and is effective in acute settings as well.

All three of these medications are endorsed by various obstetric guidelines for managing hypertension in pregnant patients, indicating that they each play a role in the management strategy. Hence, identifying the choice "All of the above" as correct reflects the acceptance of multiple medications that can be effectively utilized to control hypertension in this population.

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