Oral nifedipine maintenance therapy after acute intravenous tocolysis in preterm labor.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of maintenance oral nifedipine in pregnant women initially treated with intravenous ritodrine plus verapamil for preterm labor.


METHODS
The study included 73 patients with preterm labor with intact membranes. Patients were randomized to receive either maintenance oral nifedipine therapy (n=37) administered 20 mg every six hours or no treatment (controls, n=36) after discontinuation of acute intravenous tocolysis.


RESULTS
Compared to the control group, the mean +/- SD time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery (26.65 +/- 18.89 vs. 16.14 +/- 12.91 days, p=0.007) and the gestational age at delivery (37.03 +/- 2.06 vs. 35.1 +/- 3 weeks, p=0.003) were higher in the nifedipine maintenance therapy group. The proportion of patients who required one or more courses of subsequent intravenous therapy and perinatal outcomes were similar in the maintenance therapy and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The gestational age and time gained from initiation of maintenance therapy to delivery were longer in women receiving oral maintenance tocolysis with nifedipine. However, maintenance therapy did not decrease the recurrence of preterm labor episodes or improve perinatal outcomes.
Sayin
N Cenk
NC
Trakya University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edirne, Turkey. ncsayin@yahoo.com
Varol
Füsun G
FG
Balkanli-Kaplan
Petek
P
Sayin
Müge
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D009543:Nifedipine