[Clinical experience of using oxytocin antagonist atosiban in the rescue therapy of preterm labour].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of oxytocin antagonist atosiban in the alternative rescue therapy of preterm labor.


METHODS
Alternative tocolysis atosiban was given as rescue therapy to 35 women, who had received ritodrine or magnesium sulphate but failed, due to either progression of labour or intolerable adverse events. Atosiban was administered for up to 48 hours. Efficacy and tolerability were assessed based on the proportion of women who did not deliver and did not need alternative tocolytic therapy at 48 hours and 7 days after therapy initiation. The numbers of maternal adverse events and neonatal morbidity were also assessed.


RESULTS
Efficacy and tolerability at 48 hours and 7 days after atosiban initiation were 77% (27/35) and 60% (21/35). One woman presented drug-related side effects with mild nausea and vomiting. Thirty-four women have delivered and one bigemina (28 weeks) is being followed-up. In 34 women, 11 delivered before 28 gestational weeks, 17 delivered after 28 gestational weeks, 3 delivered after 34 weeks and 3 had term delivery. Pregnancies were prolonged by 4 hours to 14(+2) weeks. There were nine neonatal deaths, with gestational ages less than 28 weeks at delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxytocin antagonist atosiban could be given as alternative rescue therapy if therapy with ritodrine or magnesium sulphate fails in the treatment of preterm labor, and it is safe and effective.
Tan
Jian-Ping
JP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Chen
Hui
H
Du
Bi-Jun
BJ
Liu
Ying-Lin
YL
Wang
Yun-Hui
YH
Zhang
Jian-Ping
JP
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012312:Ritodrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; C047046:atosiban; D010121:Oxytocin; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D012312:Ritodrine; D014668:Vasotocin