Lowering blood pressure in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders to prolong pregnancy

The ACHIEVE Trial: Achieving Longer Gestation in Preeclampsia Via Antihypertensive Therapy.

Not applicable Interventional University of Alabama at Birmingham · NCT05676476

This study is testing if lowering blood pressure in pregnant women with high blood pressure can help them stay pregnant longer and improve outcomes for both mom and baby.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment132 (estimated)
Ages14 Years to 49 Years
SexFemale
SponsorUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05676476 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The ACHIEVE Trial is a randomized clinical trial aimed at determining whether lowering blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg in pregnant women with hypertensive disorders can extend the duration of pregnancy. This study focuses on women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia who are less than 36 weeks pregnant and do not exhibit severe features of the condition. By administering antihypertensive treatment, the trial seeks to improve both maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes by preventing preterm delivery. The findings from this trial could contribute to a better understanding of managing hypertension in pregnancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are pregnant women between 23 and 35 weeks gestation with non-severe hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients with severe preeclampsia or those requiring immediate delivery will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this trial could lead to improved pregnancy outcomes for women with hypertensive disorders, potentially reducing maternal and neonatal complications.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored antihypertensive treatments in pregnancy, but this specific approach to prolong gestation in non-severe cases is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant women
* Gestational age: 23 weeks, 0 days to 35 weeks, 6 days
* Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy including gestational hypertension or preeclampsia, the non-severe form at enrollment, which is called without severe features by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
* No evidence of the severe form of preeclampsia, termed severe features, as outlined in maternal exclusions
* No indication for delivery at the time of enrollment.
* Planned expectant management at time of enrollment
* Singleton or dichorionic twin gestation, defined at and beyond 14 weeks gestation. (A pregnancy complicated by a vanishing twin in the first trimester defined as less than 14 weeks gestation will be eligible.)
* Intact membranes

Exclusion Criteria:

* Preeclampsia with severe features, defined per ACOG as:
* Systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or more, or diastolic blood pressure of 110 mm Hg or more on two occasions at least 4 hours apart (unless antihypertensive therapy is initiated before this time)
* Thrombocytopenia defined as: lower than 100 x 10e9 platelets/L
* Impaired liver function that is not accounted for by alternative diagnoses and as indicated by abnormally elevated blood concentrations of liver enzymes (to more than twice the upper limit normal concentrations), or by severe persistent right upper quadrant or epigastric pain unresponsive to medications
* Renal insufficiency (serum creatinine concentration more than 1.1 mg/dL or a doubling of the serum creatinine concentration in the absence of other renal disease)
* Pulmonary edema
* New-onset headache unresponsive to medication and not accounted for by alternative diagnoses
* Visual disturbances
* Underlying renal dysfunction defined as, presenting the following parameters prior to 20 weeks gestation: baseline creatinine, equal to or higher than, 1.2 mg/dL Or proteinuria: defined as presenting protein in urine, equal to or higher than, 300 mg/24 hours or protein/creatinine ratio, equal to or higher than, 0.3 or Urine dipstick reading of greater than or equal to 2 at baseline and in the absence of a urinary tract infection
* Stage 2 chronic hypertension
* Contraindications to labetalol and nifedipine XL according to the FDA package insert
* Patient unable to or unwilling to adhere to management recommendations
* Fetal Reasons for Study Ineligibility:
* Fetal growth restriction (lower than 10th percentile) at enrollment, based on an ultrasound within 3 weeks prior to enrollment
* Oligohydramnios defined by amniotic fluid deepest vertical pocket \<2 cm based on an ultrasound within the 48 hours prior to enrollment
* Known major structural or chromosomal abnormality

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions PreeclampsiaGestational HypertensionHypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.