title: Effect of Maintenance Therapy with Isoxsuprine in the Prevention of Preterm Labor: Randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isoxsuprine (Vasodilan) is a beta-adrenergic that directly affects the vascular smooth muscle and results in peripheral vascular dilation. Isoxsuprine relaxes the uterine smooth muscles and is used for treatment of pre-term labor and dysmenorrhea. Isoxsuprine is used extensively in hospitals and private clinics in Iran; however, few studies have reported its safety and efficacy in the prevention of pre-term labor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effect of maintenance therapy with oral isoxsuprine for the prevention of pre-term labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a blinded prospective randomized trial of 70 women with singleton pregnancies who presented in pre-term labor between 26 to 34 weeks of gestation. After arresting the contractions with intravenous magnesium sulfate, the patients were randomized into two groups, with the treatment group receiving oral isoxsuprine until 34 weeks of gestation. Response to treatment was assessed by the progression of the pregnancies in both groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that 14 (40%) of the patients in the case group and 12 (34.29%) of patients in the control group had pre-term births, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.621). Also four women (11.43%) in the case group and five women (14.29%) in the control group delivered before 34 weeks (P=0.721).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral isoxsuprine was not effective as a maintenance treatment in preventing pre-term births or in delaying delivery until after 34 weeks. Larger studies are needed to identify the best treatment for pre-term labor.
authors.affiliation: Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Azin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.affiliation: Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajaee
authors.affiliation: Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Malihe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amirian
authors.affiliation: Tropical and Infectious Disease Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran ; Department of Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahboobi
authors.affiliation: Tropical and Infectious Disease Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Keramat Allah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jahanshahi
authors.affiliation: Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, BandarAbbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Armaghan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faghihi
keywords: isoxsuprine; pre-term birth; tocolytic