The pathophysiology leading to preterm labor is not well understood and often multifactorial; initiating factors include intrauterine infection, inflammation, ischemia, overdistension, and hemorrhage. Given these different potential causes, directing therapy for preterm labor has been difficult and suboptimal. To date, no single drug has been identified as successful in treating all of the unde...

OBJECTIVE To determine the most effective tocolytic agent at delaying delivery. DESIGN Systematic review and network meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Medline In-Process, Embase, and CINAHL up to 17 February 2012. STUDY SELECTION Randomised controlled trials of tocolytic therapy in women at risk of preterm delivery. DATA EXTRACTION At l...

AIM To examine the relation between grade III-IV periventricular/intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH/IVH) and antenatal exposure to tocolytic treatment in very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants. STUDY DESIGN The study population consisted of 2794 infants from the Israel National VLBW Infant Database, of gestational age 24-32 weeks, who had a cranial ultrasound examination during the firs...

Aim—To examine the relation between grade III–IV periventricular/ intraventricular haemorrhage (PVH/IVH) and antenatal exposure to tocolytic treatment in very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants. Study design—The study population consisted of 2794 infants from the Israel National VLBW Infant Database, of gestational age 24–32 weeks, who had a cranial ultrasound examination during the first...

The objective of our study is to quantitatively examine the available evidence regarding the efficacy and side effects of magnesium sulfate for acute tocolysis (from randomized trials) compared with placebo and beta-agonist agents. Randomized trials comparing magnesium sulfate with placebo or beta-agonists for tocolysis were identified with a MEDLINE-based search and was supplemented by a searc...

Preterm birth is strongly associated with neonatal death and long-term neurological morbidity. The purpose of tocolytic drug administration is to postpone threatening preterm delivery for 48 hours to allow maximal effect of antenatal corticosteroids and maternal transportation to a center with specialized neonatal care facilities. There is uncertainty about the value of atosiban (oxytocin recep...

AIM To investigate whether maternal intravenous beta-mimetic tocolytic therapy increases the risk of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and poorer behavioural and developmental outcomes. METHOD Our study is a prospective case-control study among 90 children between 1.5 and three years old. Cases (n = 46) were toddlers with betamimetic tocolytic exposure; control group toddlers (n = 44) were to...

BACKGROUND The use of tocolytic hospitalization in antenatal care is controversial and worthy of more research. We investigated individual, institutional, and area factors that affect the use of tocolytic hospitalizations in Taiwan where fertility has rapidly declined. METHODS Longitudinal data from the 1996 to 2004 National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan were used to identify t...

Administration of short-term tocolytic agents can prolong pregnancy for women in preterm labor. Prolonging pregnancy has many benefits because it allows for other proven interventions, such as antenatal corticosteroid administration, to be accomplished. This review provides an overview of currently utilized tocolytic agents and the evidence demonstrating their efficacy for prolonging pregnancy ...