Effect of antenatal thyrotropin-releasing hormone on uterine contractility, blood pressure, and maternal heart rate.
OBJECTIVE
The goal was to study the effects on uterine contractility, blood pressure, and heart rate of thyrotropin-releasing hormone given antenatally in combination with glucocorticoids to accelerate fetal maturation.


METHODS
A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study was performed involving 30 women whose pregnancies were followed up at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg in 1994 and 1995.


RESULTS
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone induced a significant mean increase of nearly 6 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure and approximately 5 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure. The duration of this raise was < 20 minutes. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone had no significant effect on maternal heart rate or uterine contractility: 4.2 +/- 1.6 contractions per hour before versus 4.7 +/- 1.7 contractions per hour after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone induces a small (mean < 6 mm Hg) and brief mean (< 20 minutes) increase in blood pressure but appears to have no clinically detectable effect on uterine contractility.
Devlieger
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
Vanderlinden
S
S
de Zegher
F
F
Van Assche
F A
FA
Spitz
B
B
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010919:Placebos; D011247:Pregnancy; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*
D010919:Placebos; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone