title: The effects of indomethacin and terbutaline on human fetal umbilical artery velocimetry: a randomized, double-blind study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to study the effects of indomethacin and terbutaline on umbilical artery impedance as measured by the systolic/diastolic ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal, low-risk patients at 26 to 32 weeks' gestation were enrolled. A baseline evaluation of the umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio was performed. The patients were then randomized to one of three groups and received a coded capsule that contained either terbutaline (5 mg), indomethacin (50 mg), or placebo. Repeat evaluation of the umbilical artery systolic/diastolic ratio was performed 4 hours later. The ratios before and after administration of the medication were compared in the control and study groups. Analysis of variance and paired Student t test were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients received indomethacin, 14 placebo, and 12 terbutaline. Pretreatment and posttreatment systolic/diastolic ratios were 3.2 and 3.1 for the indomethacin group, 3.2 and 3.3 for the placebo group, 3.0 and 2.8 for the terbutaline group, respectively. The changes in the systolic/diastolic ratio in the indomethacin and terbutaline groups, as compared with the placebo group, were not found to be significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Terbutaline and indomethacin do not have a significant effect on the human umbilical artery impedance as measured by the systolic/diastolic ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Moise
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cotton
mesh_terms: D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D011247:Pregnancy; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013726:Terbutaline; D007213:Indomethacin