A randomized controlled trial of adjunctive erythromycin in women with idiopathic preterm labor.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the effects of erythromycin among hospitalized women with idiopathic preterm labor who were treated with tocolytics.


METHODS
This prospective randomized trial was conducted in patients with preterm labor of no clinically identifiable cause between 26 and 34 weeks of gestation, who were receiving magnesium sulfate. A total of 136 patients were screened. Of these, 80 eligible, consenting patients were randomized to receive either 400 mg erythromycin or placebo orally every 6 hours for 10 days. Necessary statistical comparisons were preformed using unpaired two-tailed Student's t-test and Chi-square analysis.


RESULTS
In comparing the 38 erythromycin and 42 placebo patients there was improvement in the treatment-to-delivery interval (33.33 +/- 18.36 versus 26.88 +/- 13.9 days, respectively), mean gestational age at delivery (36.11 +/- 2.33 versus 34.36 +/- 2.33 weeks, respectively), mean birth weight (2722.31 +/- 511.65 versus 2419.41 +/- 513.54 g, respectively), and reduced neonatal admission to NICU (36.8% versus 60.19%) in the erythromycin group.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with idiopathic preterm labor the adjunctive use of erythromycin therapy appeared safe and well tolerated and resulted in a statistically significant delay from admission to delivery and improved gestational age at delivery, mean birth weight and neonatal outcome.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. rajaei_minoo@yahoo.com
Minoo
M
Rajaei
Marjan
M
Sultani
Shahram
S
Zare
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001724:Birth Weight; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate