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[Clinical effect and mechanism of nitroglycerin patch on arresting preterm labor]
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Objective:
To observe the effect of nitroglycerin patch on treatment of preterm labour and to identify the mechanism responsible for arrest of preterm labour with nitroglycerin patch.
Methods:
Sixty women diagnosed as threatened preterm labour were divided into two groups: group of nitroglycerin patch therapy (n = 30), and group of magnesium sulfate and salbutamol sulfate therapy (n = 30). Nitroglycerin patch was applied to the abdomen of patients. Measurement of cortictrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in maternal plasma was performed by radioimmunoassay.
Results:
The mean time of pregnancy prolongation was 25 days in the nitroglycerin patch group, and 8 days in the magnesium sulfate and salbutamol sulfate group. The mean level of CRH concentration in nitroglycerin patch group before treatment was (257 +/- 61) ng/L, and it was decreased sharply to (38 +/- 17) ng/L after treatment. Those were (248 +/- 60) ng/L and (56 +/- 22) ng/L respectively in the magnesium sulfate and salbutamol sulfate group.
Conclusion:
Reduction of CRH secretion may be the mechanism of nitroglycerin patch on preterm labour therapy. It may act as an effective, safe, well-tolerated, and non-invasive method for treatment of preterm labour.