Vaginal administration of the nitric oxide donor isosorbide mononitrate for cervical ripening at term: a randomized controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to examine the effect of the nitric oxide donor isosorbide mononitrate on the uterine cervix at term and to evaluate possible adverse effects of this treatment.


METHODS
Term pregnant women were randomly selected to receive either 40 mg vaginally administered isosorbide mononitrate or placebo 4 hours before elective cesarean section. Cervical status, maternal blood pressure, maternal pulse rate, fetal heart rate, umbilical arterial Doppler indices, and various side effects were examined.


RESULTS
Isosorbide mononitrate induced a significant increase in cervical distensibility. It also caused a significant change in maternal blood pressure and maternal pulse rate. In addition, the frequency of maternal headache and palpitations was significantly higher in the isosorbide mononitrate group versus the placebo group. However, the intensity of these symptoms was moderate.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaginal administration of 40 mg of isosorbide mononitrate induces cervical ripening at term. Although the majority of women experienced side effects, no serious clinical maternal or fetal adverse effects, resulting in specific medication or emergency cesarean section, were diagnosed.
Ekerhovd
Erling
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden. erling.ekerhovd@obgyn.gu.se
Bullarbo
Maria
M
Andersch
Björn
B
Norström
Anders
A
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; C030397:isosorbide-5-mononitrate