Nonstress tests were reactive in 84% of 76 patients on labetalol and in 81% of 36 patients on methyldopa, a difference that was not statistically significant, reported Dr.
Major Finding: The rate of reactive
nonstress tests in pregnant women with chronic hypertension was not significantly different in 76 patients treated with labetalol (84%), compared with 36 treated with methyldopa (81%).
No proteinuria is detected, blood testing results for preeclampsia (complete blood count, liver enzymes, serum creatinine, and uric acid) are normal, and the
nonstress tests are reactive in both fetuses.
In patients whose pregnancy is at 30 weeks or less, delivery may be postponed so long as
nonstress tests and umbilical artery Doppler findings remain reassuring.
The question of who needs a
nonstress test has not been clearly resolved, in part because of the low predictive value of a nonreactive test.
Although many study protocols use amniotic fluid volume index along with the
nonstress test, a small study by Harding and associates[28] found that amniotic fluid volume has relatively large daily fluctuations in cases of PROM and does not contribute to the identification of fetal distress and early infection.
Her ObGyn sent her to the emergency department for a
nonstress test and fetal ultrasonography.
If you see two accelerations that measure, "a box-and-a-half by a box-and-a-half" within 20 minutes, the
nonstress test is reactive.
A
nonstress test was initially nonreactive and then became reactive, and a biophysical profile score was reassuring.
Belfort orders a
nonstress test, amniotic fluid index, and lab tests every 3-4 days or more often depending on the clinical circumstances.
Alternative recommendations range from only a
nonstress test and discharge if normal[8,14] to a full 24-hours' monitoring for all patients.
