LOS ANGELES -- Women pregnant with twins who were given oral maintenance tocolysis after stabilization of preterm labor were less likely to have a recurrence and had longer gestations if treated with oral terbutaline rather than nifedipine, a retrospective analysis suggests.
A lower percentage of women on terbutaline experienced recurrent preterm labor at less than 35 weeks' gestation, compared with those on nifedipine (50% vs. 67%).
The terbutaline group also had a higher percentage of women who delivered at 35 weeks or later (66% vs. 55%).
Dr. John P. Elliott reported the results in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
A total of 210 women who were discharged on oral nifedipine after hospitalization and treatment of an initial episode of preterm labor were matched with 210 women discharged on oral terbutaline.
All women in the retrospective study started maintenance tocolysis between 20 and 32 weeks' gestation and were managed with home uterine activity monitoring and nursing assessment on a daily and as-needed basis, said Dr. Elliott of Phoenix, Ariz.
Even when preterm labor recurred, women in the terbutaline group went 5 days longer from the start of oral maintenance tocolysis to recurrence (26 days vs. 21 days).
Patients in the two groups were matched by gestational age and cervical dilatation at the time of their initial preterm labor, use of cerclage, and any history of previous preterm delivery.
The typical dose of oral maintenance tocolysis was 10-20 mg every 4-6 hours for nifedipine or 2.5-5 mg every 3-6 hours for terbutalin.
COPYRIGHT 2002 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
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