Influence of maternal magnesium sulphate and ritodrine treatment on cerebral blood flow velocity of the preterm newborn.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the effect of antenatal tocolytic administration of magnesium sulphate and ritodrine on the cerebral blood flow velocity and on the cerebral vascular resistance of preterm newborns in the first hours of life.


METHODS
Cerebral blood flow velocity, resistance index and relative vascular resistance were studied in 27 preterm infants (<34 weeks gestation) with antenatal exposure to maternal magnesium sulphate treatment and in 27 preterm infants (<34 weeks gestation) with antenatal exposure to maternal ritodrine treatment. Both antenatal magnesium sulphate or ritodrine were used for tocolysis. Cerebral blood flow was measured, using Doppler ultrasonography, in the anterior cerebral artery, in the left middle cerebral artery and in the right middle cerebral artery.


RESULTS
We did not find any significant difference in the blood flow velocity, resistance index or relative vascular resistance in the three cerebral arteries between the two treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that maternal antenatal administration of magnesium sulphate to delay preterm delivery, compared to antenatal administration of ritodrine, does not induce any significant differences either in cerebral blood flow velocity or in cerebral vascular resistance of preterm infants in the first hours of life.
Pezzati
M
M
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Section of Neonatology, University of Firenze School of Medicine, 85-50134 Florence, Italy. pezzati@unifi.it
Giani
T
T
Gambi
B
B
Dani
C
C
Bertini
G
G
Biagiotti
R
R
Rubaltelli
F F
FF
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012312:Ritodrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D012312:Ritodrine