Eskandr AM, et al. - Whether dexmedetomidine reduces both the stress response and the haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation when administered as a part of general anaesthesia in patients with pre-eclampsia undergoing caesarean delivery, was investigated. Based on dexmedetomidine dosing, three groups were examined: Groups D1and D2 received an infusion of dexmedetomidine 1 μg kg^-1 over the 10 min before induction of general anaesthesia, then 0.4 and 0.6 μg kg^-1 h^-1 dexmedetomidine, respectively. Group C received equivalent volumes of 0.9% saline. Without causing significant adverse neonatal outcome, dexmedetomidine was shown to be related to haemodynamic and hormonal stability when administered in doses 0.4 and 0.6 μg kg^-1 h^-1.