Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
Secondary analysis of the use of transdermal nitroglycerin for preterm labor
Graeme N Smith1, Yanfang Guo, Shi Wu Wen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen's Perinatal Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada. gns@queensu.ca.
Objective:
This secondary analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled trial was to hypothesize on mechanisms for the improved neonatal outcomes with the use of nitroglycerin (GTN) for preterm labor.
Study Design:
Women in the original trial who delivered at term were excluded. A composite of severe neonatal outcomes, gestational age at delivery, and corticosteroid use in addition to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to assess time from randomization to delivery were examined.
Results:
A decrease in composite neonatal outcome (relative risk, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.81; P = .018) with GTN (n = 39) compared with placebo (n = 38) was primarily due to a 23 day prolongation of pregnancy (P = .019) and a trend (P = .04) toward completing a course of corticosteroids in the subgroup randomized prior to 28 weeks' gestation.
Conclusion:
We hypothesize that GTN has a gestational age-dependent reduction in neonatal outcomes as a result of pregnancy prolongation and corticosteroid administration.
