title: Nifedipine in the management of preterm labor: a systematic review and metaanalysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and safety of nifedipine as a tocolytic agent in women with preterm labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six trials (2179 women) were included. Nifedipine was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of delivery within 7 days of initiation of treatment and before 34 weeks' gestation, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, neonatal jaundice, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit when compared with β₂-adrenergic-receptor agonists. There was no difference between nifedipine and magnesium sulfate in tocolytic efficacy. Nifedipine was associated with significantly fewer maternal adverse events than β₂-adrenergic-receptor agonists and magnesium sulfate. Maintenance nifedipine tocolysis was ineffective in prolonging gestation or improving neonatal outcomes when compared with placebo or no treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nifedipine is superior to β₂-adrenergic-receptor agonists and magnesium sulfate for tocolysis in women with preterm labor.
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conde-Agudelo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kusanovic
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D009543:Nifedipine