The comparison of Magnesium Sulfate and Ritodrine Hydrochloride for management of preterm labor

• Main Authors: Metin Nurluoğlu, Gonca Yıldırım, Hatice Ender Soydinç
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2012-06-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: Preterm labor; Magnesium sulfate; Ritodrine hydrochloride; Tocolysis
• Online Access: http://www.diclemedj.org/upload/sayi/2/DicleMedJ-01047.pdf

Objectives: We aimed to compare the efficacy, and maternaland fetal outcomes of magnesium sulfate and ritodrinehydrochloride treatments in preterm labor.Materials and methods: Eighty pregnant women withpremature labor between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancywere divided into two groups randomly. One group receivedmagnesium sulfate and the other received ritodrinehydrochloride. Preterm labor was defined as theoccurrence of at least two contractions in 10 minutes accompaniedby cervical changes. Magnesium sulfate wasadministered as a 4,5 gram bolus, then continued 1-2 gr/hinfusion rate. Ritodrine hydrochloride was started 50 mcg/minute infusion, and was increased to 50 mcg/minute every15-20 minutes until the contractions stops or occursthe serious side effects. The intravenous treatments withboth agents were continued with oral maintenance therapy.Tocolytic effect and maternal-fetal outcomes werestatistically compared.Results: There was no significant difference betweenboth tocolytic treatment groups in terms of the prolongationof pregnancy ≥ 48 hours and ≥ 7 days, terminationof pregnancy after 36 weeks, the delayed the number ofdays after onset of preterm labor and gestational weeksat the birth. Life-threatening serious adverse effects werenot observed in both groups. Side effects were less observedin magnesium sulfate group. No significant differencewas found in newborn weight and apgar scoresbetween two groups.Conclusion: There is no difference between these twotreatments for efficacy, fetal and neonatal outcomes.However, considering the maternal adverse effects, magnesiumsulfate treatment is superior to ritodrine hydrochloride.