Premature labor and indomethacin.
Administration of indomethacin to 29 women in the 26th--37th week of gestation with premature labor contractions was followed in 26 by a significant decrease of uterine activity. The effect of therapy was monitored by serial external tocometry recordings and by plasma concentrations of estriol, h.P.L., alpha-fetoprotein, and estriol/creatinine ratio in urine. The labor was monitored by cardiotocography; the new born infants were examined by the pediatrician. Following oral indomethacin treatment (25 mg every 6 Hours for 5 days) no untoward effects was observed on maternal and fetal wellbeing during pregnancy and labor. Four out 29 newborn infants, all appropriate for gestational age of 36--40 weeks, had one-minute Apgar scores less than 7, cyanosis, tachypnea, hypoxemia and serious oxygen dependency for several days. All the infant survived. These abnormalities may be due to short-term exposure to indomethacin and consequent inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase, impairement of prostaglandin-dependent physiological regulation of vessel tone during fetal life and circulatory disorders at birth.
D001034:Apgar Score; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004964:Estriol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy
D010928:Placental Lactogen; D004964:Estriol; D007213:Indomethacin