The efficacy and safety of various tocolytics for preterm labor

Artymuk N.V., Marochko K.V., Chvanova E.A.

1) Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Kemerovo, Russia; 2) S.V. Belyaev Kuzbass Regional Clinical Hospital, Kemerovo, Russia
The prevention and treatment of preterm labor remain an unsolved problem in modern obstetrics. Certain successes have been currently achieved in the treatment of threatened preterm labor due to drugs that suppress uterine contractile activity, which include tocolytics. The most widely used tocolytic agents are β-adrenomimetics; however, they are associated with a high frequency of unpleasant and sometimes severe maternal side effects. Calcium channel blockers may have similar tocolytic efficacy with fewer side effects than β-adrenomimetics. Oxytocin receptor antagonists also have a low side effect profile. The administration of tocolytic drugs can reduce the strength and frequency of uterine contractions, delay the onset of labor for 48 hours and/or even 7 days, but cannot prolong pregnancy to full-term. The drugs are administered within 48 hours in order to prevent fetal respiratory distress syndrome, to perform magnesium sulfate therapy for fetal neuroprotection, and to transfer a pregnant woman to a Group III hospital. Currently, the choice of a drug for tocolysis remains debatable.
Conclusion. It is necessary to continue clinical trials in order to select an effective, and most importantly safe, therapy for threatened preterm labor.

Keywords

tocolytics
tocolysis
atosiban
calcium channel blockers
β-adrenomimetics
preterm labor

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Received 27.07.2021

Accepted 30.07.2021

About the Authors

Natalya V. Artymuk, MD, PhD, Professor, Head of the G.A. Ushakova Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health
of Russia. Tel.: +7(3842)73-48-56. E-mail: artymuk@gmail.com. ORCID: 0000-0001-7014-6492. 22a Voroshilova str., Kemerovo, 650056, Russian Federation.
Kristina V. Marochko, PhD, assistant of the G.A. Ushakova Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russian.
Tel.: +7(3842)73-48-56. E-mail: marochkokv@mail.ru. ORCID: 0000-0003-2832-6638. 22a Voroshilova str., Kemerovo, 650056, Russian Federation.
Elizaveta A. Chvanova, obstetrician-gynecologist of the Perinatal center, S.V. Belyaev Kuzbass Regional Clinical Hospital. Tel.: +7(3842)68-23-00. E-mail: cherish001@mail.ru. ORCID: 0000-0003-4121-7188. 22v Oktyabrsky Ave., Kemerovo, 650066, Russian Federation.

For citation: Artymuk N.V., Marochko K.V., Chvanova E.A. The efficacy and safety of various tocolytics for preterm labor.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021; 8: 18-24 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2021.8.18-24

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