title: [Tocolysis with beta sympathomimetics alone or combined with the calcium antagonist verapamil? I. Effect of verapamil on maternal cardiovascular parameters and the course of pregnancy].
abstract: In a retrospective study covering 471 cases the influence of the calcium antagonist Verapamil on tocolytic therapy with beta-mimetics was examined. 308 patients received Fenoterol therapy (group A) and 163 were treated with a combination of Fenoterol and Verapamil in a dosage-relation 1/20 (group B). There was no significant difference between group A and B in respect of age, parity, week of gestational age at the beginning of therapy and at delivery, and mode of delivery. The cardiovascular parameters demonstrated alterations as described in literature. The heart frequencies increased significantly in all patients while the systolic and the diastolic blood pressures decreased significantly in hypertonic patients only. These alterations of the cardiovascular parameters were the same in both groups. The efficiency of the tocolytic therapy was tested by comparing the prolongation index (Richter) and the frequency of uterine contractions measured by external cardiotocography. There was no significant difference between groups A and B. Severe complications occurred in 6 patients so that the therapy had to be discontinued (3 women suffered from pulmonary oedemas). These complications were also seen under additional Verapamil application during tocolytic treatment. The side effects as far as reported by the patients were restricted to a significantly lower rate of obstipation in the Fenoterol/Verapamil treated group B. We conclude that administration of the calcium antagonist Verapamil is of no additional value in tocolytic treatment with beta-mimetics.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004983:Ethanolamines; D005280:Fenoterol; D014700:Verapamil
vernacular_title: Tokolyse mit beta-Sympathikomimetika allein oder in Kombination mit dem dem Kalziumantagonisten Verapamil?