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The Efficacy of Nifedipine in the Management of Preterm Labor

Conditions
Preterm Labor With Preterm Delivery in Third Trimester
Side Effect of Drug
Preterm Labor
Preterm Birth
Calcium-Channel Blockers Toxicity
Preterm Labor Without Delivery
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04644354
Lead Sponsor
Ethem Unal, M.D., PhD, Associate Prof of Surgery & Surgic
Brief Summary

Preterm labor is one of the problems of obstetrics, and is one of the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The incidence of preterm birth is around 7 to 9 %. The preterm baby is prone to respiratory, renal, neurologic and gastrointestinal problems. The correct diagnosis should be followed by the early administration of the most effective tocolytic agent with least side effects for both mother and fetus. Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, has gained a world-wide popularity recently since it has the least side-effects on both mother and fetus. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the success rate of tocolytic agent 'nifedipine' on the spontaneous preterm labor of singeton pregnant women with intact amnionic membrane.

Detailed Description

Preterm birth is the main reason of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The main management method of this important problem is to prolong the pregnancy period and to use corticosteroids to prevent fetal pulmonary distress. The most widely studied tocolytic agents, ritodrin, salbutamol and terbutaline are all betamimetics, and they are shown to prolong birth labor till 7 days and do not have any effct on the fetal mortality. However, their maternal side-effects are inevitable and can be mortal. They cause tachycardia, hypotension and some biochemical disturbances. Furthermore, maternal death is possible due to pulmonary edema. These adrenergic agonists are the first line tocolytics, but calcium canal blockers are becoming more popular since they have less side effects and comparable efficacy.

Calcium canal blockers are nonspecific smooth muscle relaxants used in adult hypertension treatment. Their tocolytic effect depends on their inhibition of calcium ions into the myometrial cells. In vitro studies have shown that they have strong relaxant effects on human myometrium. In the present study, our aim is to investigate the effects of nifedipine in our clinic in a period between 2002 and 2005, when it was first used in our clinic as the sıngle tocolytic agent. Its success in preventing preterm labor and its complications in our earlier practice will be noted and this retrospective study will guide us in its current usage, dosages and side-effects.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
444
Inclusion Criteria
  • ingleton pregnant women with spontaneous preterm labor at their 23-37 weeks.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Normal pregnant women
  • Pregnent women before 23 weeks of gestation
  • Pregant women between 23 and 37 weeks of gestation, but with preterm early membrane rupture, chorioamnionitis, preterm labor without cervical change, multiple pregnancy, hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal anomaly, oligoanhidramniosis, placenta previa, decolman placentaand intrauterine fetal death

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group B - Threatened Preterm Labor (tPL)Nifedipine 10 mgSingleton pregnant women with spontaneous preterm labor at their 23-36 weeks: regular contractions less then 4 in 20 minutes and cervical dilatation less then 2 cm
Group A - Advanced Preterm Labor (aPL)Nifedipine 10 mgSingleton pregnant women with spontaneous preterm labor at their 23-36 weeks: regular contractions 4 or more in 20 minutes and cervical dilatation at 2 cm and above
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Delay Delivery for 1 day1 day

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the delay recorded till delivery is only 24 hours

Delay Delivery for 2 days2 days

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the delay recorded till delivery is 48 hours

Delay Delivery for 3 days3 days

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the delay recorded till delivery is 72 hours

Delay Delivery for 7 days7 days

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the delay recorded till delivery is 168 hours

Birth before 34 weekstill 34 weeks of gestation

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the preterm birth occurs before 34 weeks

Birth before 37 weekstill 37 weeks of gestation

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the preterm birth occurs before 37 weeks

Birth after 37weeksafter 37 weeks of gestation-normal birth

After start of tocolytic nifedipine, the preterm birth occurs after 37 weeks (Normal birth)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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