Maternal liver impairment associated with prolonged high-dose administration of terbutaline for premature labor

Widespread use of beta 2-sympathomimetic therapy for premature labor has resulted in a diverse number of serious maternal complications, ie, pulmonary edema, myocardial ischemia, etc. However, to the authors' knowledge, there has been only one previous report of mild maternal liver impairment associated with this therapy. Recently, a patient developed marked elevation of liver enzymes (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase) during therapy with terbutaline sulfate for premature labor.