title: Effects of methylxanthines on the fetus.
abstract: The role of caffeine and other methylxanthines in prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation, and the respiratory distress syndrome is currently under investigation. Their pharmacokinetics are discussed together with their newly discovered beneficial role as possible inhibitors of premature labor and accelerators of fetal lung maturation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007700:Kinetics; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration; D013806:Theophylline / Q000378:metabolism; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014970:Xanthines; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline; D000242:Cyclic AMP