title: Oxytocin antagonists for the management of preterm birth: a review.
abstract: Preterm birth, the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, is estimated at incidence of 12.7% of all births, which has not decreased over the last four decades despite intensive antenatal care programs aimed at high-risk groups, the widespread use of tocolytics, and a series of other preventive and therapeutic interventions. Oxytocin antagonists, namely atosiban, represent an appealing choice that seems to be effective with apparently fewer side effects than the traditional tocolytics. This article reviews the available literature on the pharmacokinetics, mode of administration, and clinical utility of oxytocin antagonists for acute and maintenance tocolysis with special emphasis on its safety profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ihab M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.forename: Anwar H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Nassar
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D007211:Indoles; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; C047046:atosiban; D010121:Oxytocin; C082134:relcovaptan; D009543:Nifedipine; C517339:barusiban; D014668:Vasotocin